PDN Article: Nov. 8, 2013
In today's world, toughness and glamour rule,
especially if you are a teenager. Teens who buy into the myth that image is
everything risk losing it all when they experience a letdown, a rejection or a
broken heart.
Teenage girls are more vulnerable to this
serious form of the blues than are teen boys. The majority of depressed
adolescents are teenagers, girls between the ages of 12 to 19. Girls are more
open emotionally and tend to talk about it more. Boys, for the most part, have
more physical outlets for stress and emotions than do girls.
Depression in contemporary teenage girls are
fourfold:
• the zooming divorce rate;
• the message our culture sends about
sex;
• the increase of violence and abuse
against children and women; and
• increasing teen addiction to drugs and
alcohol.
A big factor in depression in young people is
the breakdown of the family or divorce. It's hard on teenagers when their
primary support system, the family, is gone.
For a female, she gets a lot of identity from
her father and he isn't there to guide her or talk to her or tell her how
pretty she is. Missing a mother figure can be just as terribly damaging to
young people.
Attitudes about sex are a toxic societal
factor driving teen girls into depression. The culture sends a mixed message to
girls. Sex is something sacred, but on TV, sex is what's selling and there's
too much pressure to be attractive to the opposite sex.
Over-emphasizing female sexuality causes girls
to focus on their bodies, rather than on their intelligence, ability or
spirituality. This lends to girls finding fault with themselves and each other
if their appearance doesn't measure up.
Body image
The gold standard for an adolescent girl is to
be slim and sexy. Girls have become more likely today than ever before to
internalize society's message and "scapegoat" peers who don't meet
that standard.
Failure to be thin and beautiful can lead to
depression in teen girls who place exaggerated value on appearance. Teen girls'
concern with appearance may occur in part because looks seem to be all society
recognizes them for. This also can lead to eating disorders and self-mutilation
in girls who are trying to regain the control over themselves that they feel
they have lost.
Girls already brainwashed to believe that
their bodies are their most valuable commodity are likely to become involved in
casual sex, which in turn can trigger depression.
One cause of depression in girls is peer
pressure to fit in. Their friends are having sex, so they get involved in sex
out of loneliness and wanting to be accepted. They give sex to get love, and if
the relationship ends, they're thrown into depression.
Depression treatable
Depression is widespread among our teens,
especially girls, who are most vulnerable to peer pressure. The assuring news
about depression is that it's treatable.
Watch for signs, such as:
• a marked downturn in mood;
• negativity;
• sleeplessness or sleeping too much;
• a drastic change in eating habits; and
• self-isolation.
These symptoms usually last for more than two
weeks. A lot of parents don't realize what's going on and they think it's
normal moodiness.
A network of educators and professionals in
our community can serve as a safety net for young people in the brink of an
emotional breakdown, but the primary responsibility for our young people rests
with the parents.
Parents, be aware, get to know your children
and talk with them. And when you sense something isn't right, make the decision
for your child to seek professional help.
Annie F.B. Unpingco,
LCSW, is administrator of I Famagu'on-ta at the Guam Behavioral Health and
Wellness Center.
