Depression is no stranger to teenagers. It affects a lot of people, even if in small doses. It’s especially frequent around the winter, when energy is lower and all you’re doing is staying indoors because it’s too cold to go out. It’s common for people to feel worse the lower their energy is. This is seen all the time, such as when you’re sick or when it’s winter.
Depression hit me once. It often hits people once, but what’s more likely is that it hits twice. People who have had depression before are more likely to experience it a second time, even after recovery. However, there are resources available to help people going through depression for the first, second or even third time.
During the fall and winter of my sophomore year of high school, I was depressed. This wasn’t the first time. Back in middle school, I had been diagnosed with depression, but had been medicated and had since recovered from that experience. I knew what I had been going through, but like many, I didn’t want to seek out help. Instead, someone sought out help for me. That was arguably the best thing that has ever happened in my life.
I was hospitalized and eventually put in a children’s psych ward. While I was only in both places for a week each, it led me on the path to recovery. I’m not saying get yourself hospitalized, but it’s important to take steps to help yourself recover before anything worse can happen and prevent the need for hospitalization.
The help I got, both while and after being hospitalized, changed a lot for me, particularly group therapy. I received this both in the psych ward and in an intensive outpatient program afterwards. Even if you don’t struggle with depression, but are just going through hard times, group therapy is something I would recommend people do at least once a week, just to help them get up on their feet.
Group therapy is simple. You and some closely aged peers, going through their own struggles, are accompanied by a therapist. Often, the therapist will lead you through a structured activity or talk. However, the real magic comes from talking with the peers in your group.
Portland has numerous group therapy options—do note that most group therapy options require payment—including Pathway, where I personally received help after the psych ward, and The Trauma Center NW. If neither interests you, there are other specific groups listed on the Portland Therapy Center.
Even if you aren’t the most extroverted, give group therapy a try just to listen to other people. It can be comforting to hear personal stories from others, especially if you resonate with them.
Seeing others go through the same things as you can be helpful. Try reading positive stories or watching movies of people going through the same thing you are. Having a visual representation of something relatable can spark good emotions. It makes you feel cared for and seen. Even so, make sure to get a brief synopsis of what to expect from a movie about a sensitive subject so you don’t end up surprised or triggered.
Another big help while I was in the psych ward was music. I would often play calm, Renaissance-sounding music, which worked for my needs. It helped me stay calm during a tough time. Often, playing something that can soothe you will help tremendously.
Thinking badly of yourself is another big factor that causes depression. While everyone does it sometimes, letting it build up or stockpile can lead to an unhealthy self-view. There’s no simple fix for this; in most cases, it’s just a matter of focusing on the good parts of yourself rather than the bad parts.
I used to think I wasn’t worth helping, but I learned that’s not true of anyone. Everyone deserves help to become a better version of themselves, so don’t let your mind hold you back from being the best you. Not just so you can be more liked, but so you can like yourself. If I learned anything from this experience, it’s that liking myself is more important than what other people think of me, and that I am not alone in my struggles.
Eventually, things will get better. With help and coping resources, you can help yourself to move forward.
While you may not use any of the aforementioned resources, remember that therapy is subjective, and what works for someone else may not work for you. The person who will know what works best for you is you.
