Some teenagers, as well as some adults, are very resistant to evaluation and treatment for a mood disorder. How can they be encouraged to get help?
Parents, teachers and friends who want to help a resistant person often find themselves in a difficult position. Negative stereotypes still exist about seeing psychiatrists or having a mental illness. This often is enough to keep many people away from an evaluation and subsequent treatment. The major symptoms of clinical depression, such as feelings of worthlessness, helplessness and hopelessness, may prevent people from seeking help. In bipolar illness, over-confidence or denial may cause resistance to seeking help. “What’s the use?” or “Nothing is going to help me” are common thoughts in depressed teenagers. These thoughts keep teens from understanding that there is help for the way they feel, that they can feel better, and that they have a right to feel better. Instead, these teens must come to understand that they have absolutely nothing to lose by seeing a psychiatrist. In an attempt to alleviate their negative feelings, many depressed adolescents unknowingly hide their mood disor
