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Teen Survival Guide
When you’re not happy
Does your mood sometimes change from one minute to the next? This roller coaster of emotions is normal when you’re a teen. But some feelings—like strong sadness, anger, loneliness, and fear—can keep you from enjoying life. Ask yourself these questions:
Are you depressed?
It’s okay to have the blues sometimes. But depression is a serious illness that needs treatment. See your doctor or school counselor if: you have five or more of the following symptoms of depression for at least two weeks, OR any one of these symptoms gets in the way of school or family life.
- sadness or crying that you can’t explain
- major changes in the way you eat, such as not eating or overeating
- being crabby, angry, worried, or nervous
- feeling negative or not caring about anything
- feeling guilty or worthless
- thinking about death or suicide
- sleeping more or having trouble sleeping
- not being able to focus or make choices
- not being able to enjoy the things you normally like
- not wanting to spend time with your friends
- feeling restless or tired most of the time
Activity: On a piece of paper, write down the things you are grateful for. List the people who care about you. Write about your hopes for the future. Keep what you have written in a safe place. Whenever you are hurting or feeling mixed up, read what you have written to remind yourself that your life is IMPORTANT!
Do you hurt yourself?
Teens who hurt themselves on purpose—called “self-injury”—often keep painful or confusing feelings bottled up inside. Teens that self-injure say that it helps them to feel better. But self-injury is VERY dangerous. It can lead to infections, scars, hospital stays, and even death. If you cut yourself, burn yourself, pull out your hair, or hurt your body in other ways, GET HELP RIGHT AWAY! Talk to a parent or guardian, counselor, or other trusted adult. You can learn—with help—healthy ways to cope with the things that bother you.
Fun quiz
___ in 100 people hurts himself or herself on purpose.
*Hint: You can find the answer in one of the web sites listed at the end of this section.
Answer: 1
Do you think about suicide?
If you are thinking about hurting yourself or suicide, talk to an adult right away. Call 911 or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433), or check in your phone book for the number of a suicide crisis center. The centers offer experts who can help callers talk through their problems. The hotlines also can tell you where to go for more help in person. Don’t wait—there are ways to help you deal with your pain and work on feeling better in the future.
To: girlshealth.gov
From: Jamie (age 15), Greenville, South Carolina
My friend talks about suicide, but I know she’s never tried it. Should I take her seriously?
YES! The first thing you should do is tell an adult you trust right away. You may wonder if your friend will be mad at you, but telling an adult is the right thing to do. This can be someone in your family, a coach, a school nurse, a school counselor, or a teacher. You can’t help your friend alone. If your friend is ever in danger of hurting herself, do not leave her alone. You may need to call 911.
Content last updated February 12, 2008
