Essay Teen Depression

Submitted By harlowsteele123
Words: 738
Pages: 3
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English Paper
Advanced English II
9 June 2010
Struggles through Teen Depression Most studies show that at any given time, about one in eight American teens has depression (Levin). Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye portrays the tragic downfall of a young teen coping with the struggles he faces in life. Like teens today, Salinger’s protagonist, Holden Caufield, struggles with the depression as a result of negative interpersonal relationships and the loss of a family member. Parents, teachers, friends, and relatives often find it difficult to recognize depression in a teen. “The adolescent years are a time of great change both in mind and body. Teens are trying to become independent and most will rebel against authority in some way” (Levin). Angry teens tend to be intensely irritable. Many teens are working through their problems, but experts say about 70% of people treated for depression will expierience the illness again (Greengberger). Early signs of depression should not be ignored. Holden’s signs in the book were his constant sayings, such as “Fakes” and “Phonies”. The adolescent years are a time of great change both in mind and body (Levin). Teens are trying to become independent and most will rebel in authority in some way (Greenberger). Teens may experience major hormonal changes and instead of acting sad they act out. At this time in a teens life they are starting to establish an identity independent of their family. It is a feeling of isolation and lack of love. Loneliness is the awareness that you are not feeling connected to peers or family or the world around you (Greenberger). Holden suffers from loneliness snd solitariness from his brother Allie’s death. This type of loneliness is identified as interpersonal loneliness. A person suffering from interpersonal loneliness, such as Holden, might be seeking someone to replace the lost loved one. Holden makes several efforts to contact his old friend Jane Gallagher, who might be the one he is trying to replace his brother Allie with. Teenagers may act wild and angry and may not seem to care what happens to them or anyone else. Overall, anywhere from 5 to 15 percent of the United States teen population will suffer from depression at some time (Levin). Despression can be described in many ways. Its main description is that it is a serious mental disorder in which a person suffers long periods of loneliness, and other negative feelings. “But I’m crazy, I swear to god I am.” It is a common belief that people can not fucnction with depression. Many depressed people think that only crazy people seek the help of a mental health expert. The statistics about teenage runaways, alcoholism, drug problems, pregnancy, eating disorders, and suicide is alarming. Adolescents today are faced with stresses that were unknown to other generations and are dealing with them in a self destructive way. Depression is a disorder most commonly associated with adolescent suicide (Nelson). Holden did not come from a loving a supporting home which may be
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