Singing the blues

In Jazz, singing the blues is entertaining.

I got to watch a  jazz band on Bourbon Street play when I was visiting  Louisiana several years ago and I’ll never forget those four gentlemen, sharply dressed in black suspender-ed trousers and foot tapping, polished patent shoes.

It was a hot night in May and the gentlemen were sitting on hay bales in a barn. Perspiration soaked through the arm pits of their nicely pressed white oxfords and it was standing room only. I marveled at these men, awed by their  effortless  talent. I felt the room “move” to their instrument’s rhythm.  They were the pie pipers and we were hypnotized on lookers. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed listening to music as much as that night.

There’s nothing like singing the blues with a jazz band from Louisiana

But I don’t like watching a teenager singing the blues. It’s painful to watch. When a teen is singing the blues, it can turn deadly.

When the blues isn’t a song:

Too many times parents forget their teenager’s brain is very different from their adult brain. This is why teens show more risk taking behaviors and can be more emotional.  An emotional wound for the adult can be compared to a walk in the park on a drizzly afternoon. The same hurt for that teenager can be compared to running up Heartbreak Hill for the Boston Marathon, during a category 4 hurricane.

For this reason, it’s so important to  be sensitive to the teen’s reactions and not be judgmental. Never dismiss the teen’s feelings but validate them. Statements like; “Stop over reacting. It’s only your first break up. There are other fish in the sea” might be viewed as criticism and not help the teen feel better at all. To a teen experiencing a break up for the first time, the event can be traumatic so it’s important to listen and validate, not judge.

If you notice sad moods that are persisting longer than two weeks, seek the opinion of a doctor. It may be something more serious.

The causes and types of teen depression vary.

Teen depression can be brief or chronic. It can be triggered by brain chemistry, heredity, or environmental causes (like a break up; a parent’s divorce; a serious accident, illness, a death or some other trauma). It can be something as simple as not getting enough sleep. In the summer when teens are enjoying late nights, this lack of sleep can make them more agitated, irritable or even depressed.

Sometimes a teen may be hiding a terrible secret.

My friend, Lori Osterman, is an author and has written a new book on the topic of teen depression and suicide. It’s a true story and stems from the teen hiding a horrible secret and not knowing where to turn.

I am attaching a link to her book for you to download for free and I hope you will take the time to read it. Lori’s story points out that sometimes parents unwittingly, forget to really “see” what is taking place with their child. Sometimes, depressed teens don’t know who to turn to for help and become overwhelmed. They believe suicide is the only answer to stop their pain.

I’m hoping by making Lori’s book available on my website, more people will have the opportunity to read her story and realize teenage depression is real and suicide isn’t an option.

Click

Finding Your Own Inner Strength

and download Lori’s free book.

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