Stories from teenagers with depression
Sometimes, depression can feel overwhelming and like things will never get any better. One thing that can help is hearing personal stories about depression from other young people who have been through similar challenges.
We asked teens with depression to share how it affects their life and what helps them get through the tough times.
How Jasmine dealt with anxiety and depression in high school
Jasmine’s journey of overcoming depression started when people in her life reached out to ask if she was okay. Jasmine also found learning more about depression and anxiety helped her better understand her experiences, and connecting with other young people through the ReachOut Online Community made her feel less alone.
It was a massive release for me to find [ReachOut] and find that [depression and anxiety] was normal and it happens to other people, people like me.
How getting help made Summer feel less alone
Summer experienced domestic violence and bullying, which led to her feeling depressed about life. She found support working with health professionals and connecting with other young people with depression on ReachOut’s Online Community.
I went on the forums, I communicated with everybody so I wasn't feeling as alone, like there was somebody on the other side of another screen listening.
How Ashlea dealt with postnatal anxiety and depression
Seeking professional help for her postnatal depression helped Ashlea understand what she was going through. Healthy eating, staying active, and leaving the house regularly all helped her to overcome depression. Postnatal anxiety and depression can be difficult to recognise, and the signs can be different for everyone. Learn more about postnatal depression.
...talk to parents. Because someone will be able to give you that tiny little bit of advice that will save your sanity.
Courtney’s experience of going to hospital to help overcome depression
I was 12 when I first started to feel useless and abandoned. I kept a journal, which I wrote in every day. I sometimes wrote that I wished I wasn't alive so that I wouldn't hurt as much. When I was 15, I had a breakdown one day at school. I was taken to hospital, where I was cared for by people who wanted to help me. I was put on medication, which didn't help that much, but I soon began the journey to become 'me' again, even though I wasn't sure who I was.
As a result of being bullied, I dropped out of school. I decided to start taking part in my local community, and so I began a 12-month traineeship. But I found learning how to cope both at work and at home really hard.
I still have my bad days, but in-between them, there is some good. I constantly try to keep myself safe from my own self. In doing so, I’ve learnt that I'm not the only young person suffering from depression.
I’m not alone
Depression is just something that some people have. It's like a little black dog that’s injured and has lost his owner. I can now see it as a life-changing experience, something that I can benefit from.
All of us with depression have our own individual experiences with it, and we each deal with it in different ways. I still check in with people constantly to monitor myself and see how the little dog is doing. Some days are hard, and I backtrack. Sometimes, I feel like I’ve become the little black dog and that the Courtney I once was has disappeared. But I know that's not the case.
Getting help
To everyone out there who feels alone and dominated by depression, I offer my love, support, and advice: get help. I did. It wasn't easy, but now I'm back on track. A hotline like Kids Helpline is a great place to call and start getting help. I can also call my brother. He’s my best friend and the person who keeps me smiling.
I've had to give up a lot, and I've had to mature faster than most people my age. However, I believe that if you love your friends and family, then you have enough love for yourself. Each of us is just as important as the people who lead ‘normal’ lives. We’re the ones making the difference.
I'll never forget the support others gave me.
Without the support of everyone I love, I don't know where I would be. I don't think I’ll ever forget the nurses, the psychologists and the friends I've come across, or could ever thank them enough.
With everything I’ve been through, I’m still trudging on, and I'm extremely grateful. I'm going places, and this demon, depression, isn’t going to stop me. I have dreams that I wish to fulfil, and my little black dog sits beside my dreams, waiting to be taken for a walk.
Want to know more about depression? For answers to your questions, Ask ReachOut.
What can I do now?
Find out about treatments for depression.
Try some self-help strategies you can use to help with symptoms of depression.
Book a free text-based chat with an experienced peer worker who can listen to your experiences and help you figure out what comes next.