Out Of The Shadows
There is a girl around fourteen years of age, her parents love her, she is not poor nor rich, ugly nor fat but she is struggling daily whether to take her life or to live. She has problems sleeping. Often she cries herself to sleep and feels as if she is no good. It is not a rejection of a loved one nor are her parents putting too much pressure on her, but it is the pressure of society that makes her feel the way she does. She wakes up from only five hours of sleep feeling worthless like she does everyday. She gets ready for another day of school not really looking at herself in the mirror; she dresses in the dark because she does not want to look at her disgusting body. At school, she conceals her troubles and puts on a mask of happiness. When she comes home, her emotions run wild through her head yet stays under control because of her mother. It is now time for bed; the girl lies on her bed and tries to fantasize about the "perfect" life. She then compares her real life to her fantasy and begins to cry like so many times before. She only dreads the next day.
Depression is a growing obstacle for teenagers. Teens facing depression are afraid of being "labeled" as different because of their mental disease that can be cured. Society affects teenagers more and more as the years progress. Media that has a huge influence on teenagers has an unrealistic view of an ideal man and woman with rippling muscles and skinny, "perfect" bodies. When teenagers try to meet these standards they find themselves disappointed about 0s/he’s face, bodies, etc. causing depression. As Ashleigh Brilliant states, "I may not be perfect, but parts of me are excellent." Teens should keep in mind that nobody is perfect and everyone has flaws.
I greatly appreciate what Tipper Gore is trying to encourage, a way for teens to not be scared of just being themselves and find a cure for this disease in the mind. People of higher status should be involved with what teenagers are going through. Principals, school officials and counselors should be aware of the growing amount of teens suffering from depression. They could start up some sort of group program after school or maybe the counselors themselves should set up a hotline.
Teenagers dealing with depression should try to get help, whether it is through a telephone hotline or physiatrist. They should also realize that everyone is an individual, different from all the others around them. Working to accept themselves instead of working to be accepted by others has a much better outcome. Above all, teenagers that are suffering form depression need to realize that there are people out there that care and never lose hope that you will get better. As Vaclav Havel says, "Hope is a state of mind, not of the world. Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good."
