Yvonnie Bailey- Davidson

Dear Counsellor:

I have a daughter who is 15 years old. She complains of feeling depressed and her school performance has deteriorated. What can I do to help her?

- Veronica

Dear Veronica:

Depression is a common condition among teenagers which is caused by genetic as well as environmental factors.

Many teenagers have difficulty coping with peer pressure, academics and family pressures. It is a part of life for people to be depressed for very short periods of time. However, clinical depression usually lasts for more than two weeks. Depression is treated with medication and cognitive-behaviour therapy. The medications are very effective and individuals should be encouraged to take them.

Cognitive-behaviour therapy is a method of looking at our thoughts and behaviours and assessing how they affect each other. You need to encourage your daughter to think and speak positively. We need to look at the challenges in our lives and put a positive spin on certain things. Counting our blessings and giving thanks can work miracles in relieving depression.

Finding solutions

Teenagers have to face many challenges and they need to organise themselves, have goals and dreams and pay attention to their schoolwork. Negative thinking and negative perceptions could fuel depression.

Spiritual activities may help to relieve depression. Spending quality time with your daughter talking about life issues is important. Time spent together can help to relieve the tensions that we all face in life. I know that students are busy, parents are busy, but the rewards that you get from parent-child activities are great.

Encourage your daughter to speak with you about the problems that she is having. Encouraging people to talk is important as individuals get to ventilate and examine the issues from a different perspective. Discussing our problems with an empathetic listener often provides solutions.

Sometimes, depressed individuals have suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Individuals struggling with such levels of depression should be immediately taken to the doctor.

Dietary practices and exercises are important in the management of depression. A healthy lifestyle with a holistic approach will help to relieve depressive episodes.

My motherhas Alzheimer's

Dear Counsellor:

My mother is 80 years old and has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She has become very forgetful and tends to wander away from the house.

- Pearl

Dear Pearl:

Alzheimer's disease is very common among the elderly. It is a condition that can be progressive and affects an individual's thoughts, behaviour and daily activities. Your mother will require close supervision as she is not aware of her behaviour and the consequences of her actions.

There are medications that can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The medications can relieve the behavioural symptoms, as well as curb aggression or hallucinations. There is a lot of information on the Internet about Alzheimer's and its management.

Do you have siblings or close relatives? Caring for an individual with Alzheimer's requires a strong support system. Caregivers need to take a break sometimes and share duties with others. Caring for the elderly can be challenging. However, there are trained nurses who can assist in the management of senior citizens with dementia.

Alzheimer's patients can benefit from an individual reading to them. If they have favourite psalms or hymns, it is good to read or sing for them. They also like to tell stories of their past. In the early stages of the disease, long-term memory is not affected, so they will enjoy talking about their past.

Contact Dr. Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson at 978-8602 or email yvonniebd@hotmail.com.