Have you recently been diagnosed with moderately severe depression? Have you recently become uninterested in spending time with your friends and family? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you might be interested to learn more about moderately severe depression and how it can affect your social life as a teenager.

 

Before we dive in, though, it’s important to note that you’re not alone. Depression can leave you feeling isolated, but actually, about 12% of the U.S. population, aged 12 to 17 were reported to have experienced depression in just one year. There are a number of mental health care professionals who you can talk to about your current state. 

 

How can moderately severe depression affect your social life?

 

Moderately severe depression can affect your performance at school, at home and even around friends. Want to know how exactly this type of depression can affect your social life? Here are some symptoms:

 

• Negative social interactions — One of the ways that depression can affect your social life is through your social interactions. If you’re depressed, you’re more likely to view your social interactions negatively than someone who does not have depression.

 

• Decreased energy — Another symptom of moderately severe depression is decreased energy. Decreased energy can affect each sphere of your life. Especially your social life. It might become harder to find the energy to leave your room to visit a friend or even to text them. 

 

• Decreased interest in normal activities — Depression can also lead to a decreased interest in your normal daily activities. If you once loved to paint or play sports but you haven’t been interested in doing the activities you used to enjoy each day, you could be experiencing a symptom of depression.

 

• Decreased interest in spending time with family and friends — Another symptom is decreased interest in hanging around family and friends. Slowly, you might begin to isolate yourself from the activities you used to enjoy and even the people you used to see daily.

 

What types of treatment are there for people who have moderately severe depression?

 

There are a couple of treatment options for teenagers who have moderately severe depression. If you’re dealing with depression and are in search of treatment, you may benefit from the following:

 

• Process-based therapy with a licensed counselor — One treatment option for someone who has moderately severe depression is talk therapy. Speaking with a mental health specialist during process-based therapy sessions about your symptoms may help relieve some of the heavy feelings. A therapist can help determine your current state and then address those symptoms you’ve been experiencing.

 

• Medication — Medication is a treatment option for some people. It doesn’t work for everyone, however. If you think you’d be interested in taking medication for your moderately severe depression, it’s best to speak with a medical professional. Medication may also work more effectively when paired with talk therapy.

 

Lightfully wants to help you manage your moderately severe depression

 

Our mission at Lightfully is to work with individuals to change their life compassionately. We strive to provide high-quality mental health care to various types of clients through a focused approach to process-based therapy. The framework of our clinic consists of evidence-based, clearly defined, data-driven and whole-person-centered care. 

 

Lightfully offers various layers of service to both adults and teens: residential treatment, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), also referred to as our Day Treatment Program. We regularly see clients who actively manage mood, anxiety and trauma disorders. You don’t need to live at the mercy of your moderately severe depression symptoms any longer. We’d like to help you manage your symptoms so that your quality of life can improve. Our therapists are experienced in dealing with a variety of conditions and unique circumstances. 

 

Our licensed, clinical experts see each client as a complex and layered human — not just a diagnosis. We value our clients as they are and hope to enrich their lives through treatment. Our vision for the future is an authentic and loving community where everyone can be seen, heard, and valued as they are. We believe in the light within each individual, and when that light is properly nurtured it can allow a person to shine brighter than ever before.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.