Depression: Insights and Tips for Teenagers

by Christie Cognevich

Overview

Adolescent depression is often dismissed as a normal teenage experience, a bad mood, or something to outgrow. This is far from the truth, and it’s important that young adults and their families and friends understand how crucial it is to address any social, emotional, and physical difficulties they are having.

Depression: Insights and Tips for Teenagers offers relatable situations and strategies to guide young adults struggling with mental health. It includes how to identify signs of struggle, recognize stress factors, and strategies to escape harmful mental habits which can leave individuals feeling vulnerable, helpless, or in despair. This book also helps young adults who want to better understand their mental-emotional processes and grow their ability to cope with life’s many difficulties. It includes examples of mood and stress trackers to help teenagers feel more empowered over their emotions and guides them through building skills for their mental and emotional toolbox.

Filled with real life stories, Depression illustrates a wide range of stressors and emotional difficulties faced by teenagers. Written by a longtime educator who experienced adolescent depression and now works with teenagers on a daily basis, this book offers insight and hope from an accessible, non-clinical voice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538137604
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/05/2020
Series:	Empowering You
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	1,055,392
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.53(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Christie Cognevich is an educator and writer based in New Orleans, Louisiana. For the last decade she has taught literature, composition, and creative writing at the high school and university level.

Table of Contents

You Are Not Alone ix

Part I What is Depression?

1 Exploring Advice and Guidance 3

2 Exploring Depression 7

3 Taking the First Steps to Healing 25

4 Looking at the Numbers 39

Part II Coping with Depression

5 The Problem with Stress 43

6 Effectively Dealing with Stress 59

7 The Stressors; Body Image, Health Issues, Sexuality and Gender, Academics, and Social Media 67

8 Exploring the Thoughts-Feelings-Behaviors Cycle 91

9 The Problem with Forced Positivity 95

10 Effectively Dealing with Emotional Discomfort 103

11 Exploring Healthy Relationships: Friends, Peers, Family Issues, and Social Isolation 109

Part III Resolution and Resources

12 Maintaining Your Light 133

13 Exploring Self-Care 137

14 Exploring Meditation Strategies 141

15 Building Your Safety Plan 145

Notes 147

A Quick Guide to Resources 151

Bibliography 155

Index 159

About the Author 163

Editorial Reviews

Dr. Cognevich approaches depression with experience, grace, and humility. In a surprisingly quick read, the author sets the stage for a discussion of teenage depression then steps back to allow those who have struggled with it to share their insights on triggers, challenges, and successes.

Charles Strong

Cognevich writes a compelling blueprint for teens and supportive adults to follow in order to identify, understand, and manage depression. She shares her own struggles and anecdotes from the many teens she works with to help readers realize they are not alone. . . . Young adults will be well equipped with the stamina and tenacity needed to process their depression and navigate their way through any situation. A timely guide that offers plentiful, practical resources for high school students."

Dr. Cognevich approaches depression with experience, grace, and humility. In a surprisingly quick read, the author sets the stage for a discussion of teenage depression then steps back to allow those who have struggled with it to share their insights on triggers, challenges, and successes.

From the Publisher

12/01/2020

Gr 9 Up—Depressed teenagers are often misjudged as being dramatic, sensitive, moody, or attention-seeking. Some teens dismiss their symptoms because they believe their feelings of sadness will pass. Many adults ignore signs of teen depression because they assume such behaviors are normal growing pains. Cognevich writes a compelling blueprint for teens and supportive adults to follow in order to identify, understand, and manage depression. She shares her own struggles and anecdotes from the many teens she works with to help readers realize they are not alone. Her practical strategies are easily understood and will allow young adults to better their own situations. The text provides a new skill in each chapter that should be added to teens' personal toolboxes. Teens learn how to cope with their depression one tool at a time, from recognizing physical changes that act as triggers to stress inventories. This book is similar in format to Jean Rawitt's Volunteering: Insights and Tips for Teenagers, which is the first book in the "Empowering You" series. Both authors advise teens without condescension. Their narrative styles and use of stories from real teens will entice the targeted audience to read more. VERDICT Young adults will be well equipped with the stamina and tenacity needed to process their depression and navigate their way through any situation. A timely guide that offers plentiful, practical resources for high school students.—Jeni Tahaney, Summit H.S., Manfield, TX

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