Youth Facing Depression and Anxiety
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What is depression and anxiety?
According to the author Elizabeth Scott (“Very Well Mind”), “depression is a common mental disorder affecting more than 264 million people worldwide. It is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities.”
Depression affects feelings, thoughts, and behavior and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems, including feeling worthless. Depression may require long-term treatment with medication, psychotherapy, or both.
Alan E. Kazdin, in “Encyclopedia of Psychology,” states that “Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.”
People experiencing anxiety disorders typically have recurring intrusive thoughts and concerns. Physical symptoms such as sweating, tremors, dizziness, and increased heart rate may also occur. Anxiety is not the same as fear, but it is often used interchangeably.
Youth In Care and Mental Health
Depression and anxiety are disorders that are treated differently for everyone. There is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. As youth in care, we already are experiencing a lot of what life throws at us or the trauma to which we have been exposed. I see mental health as a bug that is eating us from the inside, or a marshy land where we are sinking by the second if we do not seek help.
Anxiety and depression may be caused by:
- Work, school, personal relationships, life stresses
- Emotional or physical trauma
- Financial concerns and distress
- Stress caused by a chronic or serious medical condition
- Life change or a change that had a big impact on your life
- Side effects of certain medications
- Alcohol consumption, drugs etc.
My Experience with Depression and Anxiety
Throughout my life as a youth in care, I experienced some symptoms of depression and anxiety. I thought being lazy, not being able to meet my daily goals or simple tasks was just me and I had to do better. However, I was not aware that I could be facing mental health disorders. I eventually started to notice how simple tasks were difficult for me. I realized that I was not able to be as productive and quick as I usually was in the past. For example, I was not able to do my homework on time when I loved doing homework and schoolwork. I searched “what is wrong with me?” and “why am I slow?” which pointed me to mental health disorder information. This is how I became aware that I might have been experiencing depression and anxiety.
Initially I thought I could help myself by better managing my time being more organized, but it was more than that. My school counselor then helped me reach out for help. I started to go to mental health counseling every week and began to notice the improvement. I took it day-by-day and step-by-step so that I didn’t feel bombarded and overwhelmed.
There are many of us who have felt the same. Working hard and pushing yourself to do better when you aren’t at full capacity will just make it worse. It’s like trying to drive a car without enough gas, thinking if I drive faster I will get there, when all it’ll do is run out all the same or faster.. If you can relate, then seek help for yourself. Take care of yourself, because if you don’t, then who will?
About the Author
Ruba Khan is a full-time case planner for a preventive agency. She is a former foster youth and has been a part of the Office of Children and Family Services(OCFS) Youth Advisory Board and interned for the Professional Development Program. She has been highly involved in foster care and the system throughout her life and that is where her passion for staying connected and involved comes from. She is also currently a part-time consultant for OCFS . She will be starting her masters in social work in the spring.
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