Dealing With Depression: A Teen’s Guide to Coping
As a teen, navigating the ups and downs of life can be challenging. With added stresses such as schoolwork, social pressures, family expectations, and navigating friendships, it can be difficult to know how to cope with depression. Teens are at the stage where they are learning to develop the skills necessary for emotional regulation and resilience. However, coping with depression can feel overwhelming. So, in this blog post, we’ll provide helpful tips for teens on how to cope with depression.
Remember You Have Support
When struggling with depression, especially as a teen who is transitioning into adulthood, it is important to remember that you have support. You have family, friends, teachers, or other adults in your life who care about you and are there to help. Talking to someone you trust can provide a space for you to express your emotions and gain perspective. Reaching out can be challenging, so if it feels overwhelming or uncomfortable, therapy can also be an opportunity to share your feelings and gain insight. Therapy can also give you additional resources to work on improving your mental health.
Use Healthy Coping Strategies
There are many ways to cope with depression. However, we want to make sure you are using strategies that are healthy and productive. Some ideas for healthier coping strategies are:
- Engaging in physical activity
- Talking with a trusted adult or friend
- Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal
- Challenging negative thinking patterns and replacing them with more positive ones
- Spending time outdoors
- Reading and meditating
These are just some examples of how to cope with depression in a healthy way. You know yourself better than anyone else, so find coping strategies that work for you and help you manage your mental health. For example, if you enjoy writing, journaling your thoughts and feelings can be a great way to let out your emotions. However, if you don't feel comfortable writing, maybe take a walk or listen to music instead. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to managing depression, so find the strategies that work best for you.
Self-Care
As a teen, you may feel overwhelmed by the demands and pressures you are facing. From school where there are expectations of academic and social success, to navigating relationships with friends and family, it can be difficult to find balance. That's why self-care is important. Self-care is about taking the time to do activities that make you feel good and recharge your energy.
This can be a routine like getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, or taking walks. It can also be activities that you enjoy such as playing an instrument, drawing/painting, yoga, or playing video games. It can be anything that helps you feel relaxed and energized. It can even be as simple as taking a bubble bath or spending time with friends.
No matter what you choose to do for self-care, it is important to make sure that you are doing something because you enjoy it and not because you feel obligated to. However, remember that self-care isn't a one-time thing, it is something that you should practice regularly to take care of yourself.
Therapy
One of the most effective ways to cope with depression is therapy. Sometimes depression can be difficult to manage on your own, and having a trained professional can help. A therapist can provide an understanding, non-judgmental space where you can talk through your feelings and gain insight and perspective. Your therapist will help you create an action plan to manage your depression so that you can manage your symptoms in a healthy way.
You may feel embarrassed or ashamed about your mental health, but remember that there are many people who have gone through similar experiences. There is no shame in seeking help and taking care of yourself. Plus, teen therapy can be a great way to build skills that can help you manage your mental health in the long term.
Interested in Teenage Counseling in Michigan?
As a teen, learning how to cope with depression can be difficult. However, you don't have to learn how to do it alone. At Unity Counseling, our team of caring therapists would be happy to offer you support from our Michigan-based therapy practices in Grand Rapids, MI, and Alpena, MI You can start your therapy journey by following these simple steps: You deserve to feel heard and understood, and we would be honored to help you on your journey. To start teenage counseling, please follow these simple steps:
- Contact Unity Counseling
- Meet with a caring therapist
- Start your journey to a happier and healthier you!
Other Counseling Services offered at Unity Counseling
Counseling for teens isn’t the only service offered at Unity Counseling. We offer a variety of services to support you on your journey to wellness. These services include anxiety counseling, depression counseling, and grief counseling. We also offer services including couples counseling, LGBTQ+ affirming counseling, CBT, EMDR, and mindfulness. We understand making in-person appointments can be difficult at times. So, we are happy to also offer online therapy across Michigan. Feel free to learn more about us by visiting our blog or FAQ today!