h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Having a 17-year-old friend who tried to commit suicide earlier this schoolyear, I applaud you on this entry. Adults too often say, in a sarcastic tone, "What does a 16(or whatever age)-year-old have to get depressed about?" The answer is: lots. You recognize this. Thank you.
SilverSolstice

A very good friend of mine also tried to kill herself when we were about seventeen and most people put it down to a phase she was going through. This year, seven years later, her doctor has finally decided that maybe she does have a depressive personality and started being helpful. I can't understand why it has taken him so long to get off his arse and do something. (Excuse the cursing but it makes me very angry. )

Just two words about this article: too true!

I'm only fifteen but many times I've felt like there's no f*****g point in anything. But usually I can find something on h2g2 to make me smile.

You got it there. Teenage years are b*lgium awful, I've been dippressed for ages, worrying about this ant that (I mean most things) and only last summer (at Greenbelt) realised how to cope ans I'm now much happier (plus the 6th form helped). Now reading this I never really realised that it was anything real.

Plus please put some tips on how we can let our parents know what life is actually like for us.

Thanks

Nick

I would disagree that teens come to the conclusion that all religions are BS. Being 15, I can say that I only think that all major recognized religions are BS. Once you get past that, you start thinking of religion on your own terms instead of someone else's, and you're a lot happier that way. At least in my experience.

Anyway, don't think forcing your teen to go to church will make them turn out well or not commit suicide. In fact, in some situations it may make them deliberately "go bad" as it were. Encourage them, but don't force them. Thank you.

I don't know what it's like in other parts of the world, but in Victoria Australia, maybe if you didn't make us plan out the rest of our lives (and emphasize that this is THE rest of our lives and there is no other hope) when we are only 15/16 it could help.

Before we go into the last two years of secondary school we need to decide:
What we want to be
What University/TAFE course we need to become that
What Yr 11 & 12 subjects we need to get a high enough score of Uni/TAFE and meet the subject prerequisites.

Victoria is the worst state in Australia for this happening (others wait until 16/17). The emphasis placed on the need to get a high Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER) score and the extremely competitive nature this produces in gruelling. It can even get to the point where a B is equivalent to failure and there is no point trying to do well anymore. One foolish mistake under this system (like, accidentally putting one answer under the wrong heading as I found out) can drastically affect your chances at a University/TAFE place. When to get into Law or Medicine you need scores of about 98.5+ (in a system that goes up to 99.95), this can mean disaster.

Most people have to defer so they can literally recover from the pressure of VCE (A Levels equivalent). A friend of mine did the maximum possible number of six subjects and still only got a score of 44, which probably wouldn't get her into many TAFE courses let alone University.

And adults wonder what we have to be depressed about.

(Right, I'll get off my soapbox now shall I? Yeah...)

Hey there, to add to the religios discussion....
I am a 17 year old male in NSW, Australia. I am an Athiest and I, unlike many people I've met, have actually LOOKED INTO other religions. I truly hate it when I tell people my own age that I am athiest and they say that they are athiest too, trying to sound cool. I ask them about why they have come to this descision and none of them can come up with a better reason than 'Christianity sucks'. The people I meet don't seem to realise that there are a LOT more religions out there than christianity. Any true teen atiests out there, I wish I could meet you in person and prove that there are more out there than just me....

What this has to do with teen depression? Not a whole lot unfortunately, but I just thought I'd like to share my views.

i'm catholic (yes, you may roll your eyes now) but i'd like to think of myself as more "spiritual" than "religious" (i could tell you about the time i was "visited" by an angel, but you wouldn't believe me ). anyway, just wanted to add to the conversation by saying that, even tho i'm fairly secure in my religious beliefs, i still find it fascinating to learn about other religions around the world. one of my friend's mom majored in theology and we get into interesting discussions about how different religions differ and most of the time i end up learning things that i never even thought of, sometimes it even helps me redefine, or understand better, what i believe. my point (finally): i agree that it's a shame that so few people are actually willing to go out and *learn* about religion as they might any other topic, somply becuz it's *religion* and not, say, biology or something. sometimes it threatens the foundations of what people believe, so they avoid it, and that's just sad, whether you believe in a God or not.

ok, i'm done. once again, nothing to do with teen depression but hey...

By the way, when I say "all major recognized religions" I really mean basically any religion that says "mine is the one true faith", which boils down to practically every major recognized religion.

God, that sounds awful...here at my schools (in Alabama, USA) adults always annoy you by asking "What do you want to be whan you grow up?", but they always emphasise that you don't have to know what you want to major in until your second year of college. Which I am glad of, because I have absolutely no clue what I want to do with the rest of my life, except that it might be noce to do some community theater on the side.

That should be, nice

Isnt this just typical. I spend about 3 months checking to see if my entries have been discussed and when I finally give up you all refuse to shut up. Bitch. I bet you all never write in here again will you?

Nevermind. (Oooo, is there a hint of a positive attitude in that 'nevermind' comment, nah)

Anyway as you can all tell, I was extremely depressed when I wrote this entry. Now I'm just depressed.

Anyway I found out when teenage depression ends, when you go into full time employment. It takes over all your time and in the spare time you do have you are too knackered to think about how you feel anyway. Thankfully I am off to university in september.

Not sure how religion played such a dominant part in this discusion, but as said, atheism can be used as a sort of status symbol for teens. But researching into other religions doesnt really attract me much, if there is one status quo in all major religions its believing in a higher power and imposing restrictions on yourself and people around you in order to worship that power is it not? Or is this me being ignorant? Say what you like, I consider myself an athiest.

Anyway, I probably typed all that for nothing as no-one will probably respond.....sod life, I hate it (thats more like it )

If someone says "no one will respond to this", that makes it definite that I will reply

Sorry to hear about the ongoing depression, glad that the job helps out a bit with that. Have a good time at uni if possible.

Thanks for the reply, nice to know someone is listening to my wild ramblings

Out of courtesy I had to visit your homepage, very informative. I now know Bob Dylan real name and how the UCAS application system function (which I was completely clueless about during my university application).

Those actually weren't entries I wrote, but entries I sub-edited. For some reason, as many as will fit appear in the Guide Entries section, but they vanish when you click "show all Guide Entries". Strange.

I am always available to listen to wild ramblings, being somewhat prone to them myself and hearing many of them at school. And thanks for visiting my page!

Yeliab asked for some tips on parents. Here's some 'stuff' that worked for me. Maybe some of you can find it usefull.

Tips to let your parents know how you really feel:
First you need to remember that they are only grownup kids. They still have the fear and doubt you are feeling now. The only difference is they have to look in control and without any shortcommings to keep up the image of a good parent. Parents do not get a manual that tells them exactly how to raise you. They can only do the best they know how.

Remember that 99% of parents do things to protect and care for you, although it may seem sometimes that they are just out to hurt you.
If you can help them see that you don't expect them to be perfect (which you shouldn't), they might become more 'human' towards you.

The things they really know about you, is what you have taught them. Children can help parents to understand the difficulties of teenage life. I'm not saying your parents will always listen or understand, but at least you can try to communicate with them, and close the gap between teens and parents. Teach your parents to share what really goes on in their life, by sharing what is going on in yours.

When they don't understand, try not to get emotional or aggressive. But rather try to identify why they don't understand you, and try another perspective. Believe me, most of the time it's because of their own insecurities, and they don't want you to see that they are just as scared as you.

Good luck, and remember, "this too shall pass". Soon you will be able to manage your life the way you want to. In the meantime, try not to worry so much.

Great, thanks. I'll try that. I think I have found a sort of manual, well at least guide book, by an american Psychaiatrist on the radio (Dr. Laura Sleshinger (or something))

Cool

A warning! Do NOT put too much faith in Dr Laura Slesenger as she has a reputation for bigoted opinions!

Ahh, but she's great fun to listen to though. Especially now that you can over the net.