Teens and Young Adults
When the blues don’t go away
Everyone feels sad sometimes, but those feelings usually pass in a few days. If you feel sad longer than a week, you may be depressed. Depression can happen to anyone, with some people at a higher risk than others.
When a person has depression, going to school or work may seem like a burden. Even hanging out with friends and family may be a drag. Depression is different in each person. It is a very common yet serious illness. Treatment can prevent short-term depression from getting worse and increasing to severe depression.
Depression has been linked to chemical imbalances in the brain. Brain cells use many chemicals to communicate with each other. They send messages about such things as mood and body functions. When these chemicals are out of balance, it affects the way you act, think and feel — for example, how much you eat, how your body feels and how much you sleep. Proper treatment can help get chemicals get back on track.
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