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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A comprehensive approach to helping depressed teens combines\u00A0professional &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/dysfunctional-defined-2610364&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;therapy&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0and/or medication with self-help strategies. These self-help strategies can help to shift negative patterns and provide your teen with tools she can implement and explore on her own.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;1. Exercise Often&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Movement helps combat\u00A0 &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/unexpected-symptoms-of-teen-depression-2609496&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;depression&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0in a variety of ways, including releasing feel-good chemicals into the brain. Participating in any physical activity may help improve your teen&amp;amp;#39;s mood. Any type of movement can make a difference, whether it\u2019s walking the dog, dancing in the shower or skateboarding. Exercise also increases body temperature, which may produce a feeling of calmness, and help take your teen&amp;amp;#39;s mind off of his troubles.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;2. Pay Attention to Nutrition&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Food fuels the body and the mind. Some foods tend to make\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/triggers-to-teen-depression-2609500&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;depression\u00A0&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;worse and some may make it better. For teens who thrive on junk food, adding more nutritious foods to their diet often makes a difference in how they feel. If you need more information about how to implement a healthier diet, schedule a session with a nutritionist who works with teens, or search for related information in books and online.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;3. Socialize and Find Support&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Isolation leads to loneliness, which may lead to increased feelings of depression. What often helps is to socialize and stay connected with others. A teen struggling with depression may need &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/peer-pressure-2610529&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;peers&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; who will listen and lend their support. Sometimes other depressed teens are in the best position to do this, so consider an online support group specifically for depressed teens.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;4. Vent Feelings&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Pent-up feelings and emotions sometimes need to be discharged in healthy ways in order to combat depression. The process of doing so can also help identify some of the negative feelings that often go along with depression. Ways of venting may include activities such as hitting a punching bag,\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/writing-therapy-for-troubled-teens-2610441&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;writing about it&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0or singing along to music.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;5. Focus on Sleep Patterns&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sleep often plays a role in how a teen feels physically and emotionally. Track your teen&amp;amp;#39;s sleep patterns for a few days to get more information. The ideal amount of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-much-sleep-does-your-teen-need-2606870&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;sleep&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; for teens is usually eight hours or more each night. In cases where more, or less, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-much-sleep-does-your-teen-need-2606870&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;sleep&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is needed, learn about the factors that impact sleep and consult a health professional if needed.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;6. Don&amp;amp;#39;t Use Drugs&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;When a teen doesn\u2019t like how they feel or act, sometimes they experiment with &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-to-raise-a-drug-free-teen-2611203&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;drugs&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, including caffeine, in an effort to\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/when-your-teen-is-mean-2610383&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;self-medicate&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. In most cases your teen doesn\u2019t realize this is what she is doing;\u00A0she&amp;amp;#39;s just looking for ways to try to feel better. Teens who turn to drugs usually make a bad situation worse.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;7. Have Fun&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Experiencing joy and happiness in life are important. When\u00A0depression\u00A0gets in the way, efforts to focus on fun can make a difference. Try to get your teen to participate in activities that bring a sense of pleasure. Start by having him jot down a list of anything that is fun, silly, or creates a moment of \u00A0joy, then try to include one of these in each day\u2019s activities.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Self-Help Strategies Support Professional Treatment&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Self-help strategies are not intended to replace professional treatment and are best utilized as\u00A0tools to supplement therapy and/or medication\u00A0by decreasing &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/when-your-teen-is-mean-2610383&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;symptoms&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/prognosis-defined-2610393&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;empowering teens&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; to feel better and more in control of their lives. Helping your teen implement these strategies will give you a supportive role in your teen&amp;amp;#39;s life too.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/self-help-strategies-for-depressed-teens-2609495>