Depression is defined as an illness when the feelings of depression persist and interfere with a child or adolescent's ability to function. There comes a point in some peoples' lives where social isolation, low energy, sadness, low self-esteem, and the feeling of hopelessness, cannot be taken anymore. The feelings are so strong and persistent, that the victim becomes severely unhappy, which can then result in depression.
             Among teenagers, this possibility is more frequent. The average teenager has seven school classes, at least two hours of homework a night, one or more extra curricular activity, and parents pressuring them to do their best. Not only that, but they also have friend and family relationships, jobs and their future to worry about. With all these overwhelming factors, it is highly normal for a teenager become depressed.
             However, there are many differences between feeling depressed and actually suffering from depression, the disease. Any person feels depressed at some time or another in their life. They feel worthless, tired and tend to want to be alone without human interaction. This is normal. It is when these symptoms become recurrent and much that it is time for the victim to seek professional help.
             There is no way of knowing where depression originates. Often it is sudden, with no real reason at all, while other times there is a deep, unknown reason hidden inside a person's memory. Under most cases, however, depression is induced because of a traumatic experience, such as a sudden death of a friend or family member, rape or abuse.
             In my study of a teenager suffering from depression, who would prefer anonymity, the victim was severely affected by a horribly traumatic experience. At the age of seven, her father was injured in a horrible car accident and hospitalized for twelve months. During this time, she was forced to care for her seven-month-old sister. She di
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