Teenagers and Antidepressants

The human body boasts of a very complex biochemical system and process. Our brain’s biochemistry affects our moods and emotion. Mood disorders such as depression and bi-polar disorders are a result of improper brain biochemistry.

As with most other illnesses, mood disorders are not limited to a certain demographic. The truth is that children, teenagers and adults alike are all equally susceptible to instances of mood disorders. It is very important to realize and treat mood disorders because this illness is extremely debilitating and endanger the quality of our lives.

Consequently, it is very important to properly treat mood disorders in children and teenagers. More than the usual angst, teenagers who suffer from depression suffer from extremely heavy and negative emotion that may result in them acting out and being unable to participate properly in normal societal functions. Aside from highly aggressive and disruptive behavior, teenagers with mood disorders can also instead retreat within themselves so much so that they isolate and alienate themselves from others and don’t posses the ability to function in society.

Aside from sleeping and eating disorders that accompany the inability to function properly in society, teenagers who suffer from mood disorders can also become prone to think of suicide, commit self inflicted pain, and in advance cases, actually try to commit suicide. 

The good news is that like all other types of illnesses, mood disorders are treatable with a high degree of success. One such treatment of clinical depression is the use of antidepressant drugs that regulate and treat the malfunctions in our brain chemistry.

The bad news is that the benefits of using antidepressants in teenagers are not the same as the benefit that can be acquired by adults. Although the reason of for this anomaly is unclear, the difference in benefit attained through use of antidepressants in teenagers can be due again to the fact to the body’s delicate biochemistry. Adults, children and adolescents have different levels of substances such as hormones available in the body at different stages of our lives. This may be the reason that benefits from antidepressants in teenagers are not the same as those in adults.

For instance, the eradication of suicidal attempts and suicidal tendencies are not one of the benefits of antidepressants on teenagers. In fact, despite other benefits those teenagers may get from taking antidepressants, there is an increasing awareness of the adverse affects of antidepressants.

Despite its other benefits, antidepressants in teenagers may trigger suicide and suicidal tendencies. It has been widely accepted that the occurrences of suicidal tendencies in teenagers on antidepressants don’t stem from their depression but instead is a result of antidepressant use.

There is no denying that antidepressants used by teenagers do have benefits. However, it is extremely important to understand that studies show that a side effect of this is suicidality or the state of having suicidal thoughts and attempting suicide. As a parent, you should be equipped with this knowledge so that you can decide if this side effect outweighs the benefits of antidepressant use in teenagers.

It is true that there still is a lot of controversy that surrounds this issue of suicide and teenagers that take antidepressants. Although the use of antidepressants among teenagers has not been banned, serious warnings on the matter have been issued. You should be able to tell when certain groups benefit from the oppression of truth and make an educated decision.