Depression
Depression is a mental disorder that makes the victim feel hopeless and worthless. Common symptoms include fatigue, irritability, feelings of hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, feelings of guilt, insomnia, excessive sleeping, overeating, loss of appetite, pains, suicidal thoughts, headaches, and empty feelings. Depression is a common disorder in teens, but lately has been used in everyday conversation to describe sadness. Depression should not be taken lightly and one should research the disorder before self-diagnosing in conversation. More and more schools are acknowledging depression and trying to reach out to those suffering, It would be great if we could help keep this movement alive.
Anxiety
Anxiety is another disorder that brings on feelings of worry, nervousness, unease, and that something will eventually go wrong. This is another mental illness commonly found in teens. Symptoms include trouble concentrating, a pounding heart, shortness of breath, an upset stomach, fatigue, insomnia, constant feelings of worry, and irrational fears that one just cannot shake. Anxiety Attacks are severe episodes and are often used to describe any feeling of worry, when they are much more serious than that. Kids with anxiety need to feel safe and there have been small steps to help.
Self Harm
Self harm is a reaction to depression or anxiety. It is the act of injuring one's self deliberately. Some forms include cutting, burning of the skin with fire or friction, hair-pulling (Trichotillomania), reopening wounds (Dermatillomania), hitting or punching, head-banging, or even bone breaking. Self harm is a cry for help but also a way to release the emotional pain. A person who suffers from anxiety or depression feel little to no control over his or her emotional pain, that s/he feels the need to show s/he can control his or her physical pain. Self harm has been said to numb the emotional pain. Schools should reach out more towards those who self harm. Peers should be more sensitive to the fact that it exists and should offer help to their friends. Self harmers rarely show signs that they injure themselves, except for scars.