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Teen Depression Awareness
by Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ October 29, 2026
*Although we wrote this post together, we have chosen to present the following through Mom’s eyes.
Awareness about Teen Depression
As my daughter entered her teenage years, she began struggling with negative thoughts. They were troubling enough to affect her well-being, yet they were never fully understood, properly diagnosed, or effectively treated by the professionals from whom we sought help.
By the time she left for college, those thoughts had grown far more severe, eventually pulling her into a deep and overwhelming depression.
From the beginning of her college search, Nikki was excited about the idea of leaving home. Staying local was never something she seriously considered. Like many young adults, she longed for independence and looked forward to creating a life of her own. While we both knew there would be challenges along the way, neither of us could have imagined the extent of those struggles or how profoundly they would affect her.
During her first semester, while still not quite 18 years old, Nikki began to realize just how difficult the transition was becoming. Wanting to support her in every way I could, I helped her find counseling, believing it would help her navigate the normal adjustments of college life.
Unfortunately, despite the support she received, the underlying causes of her depression remained undiscovered.
Factors that Contributed to Nikki’s Depression
Depression is often complex and rarely caused by a single factor. Looking back, several issues appear to have contributed to Nikki’s struggles during her college years.
First: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Nikki experienced intrusive, negative thoughts from an early age. Some of these thoughts seemed normal to her, while others were so distressing and embarrassing that she kept them to herself. In hindsight, many of these experiences were consistent with symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a condition that was never fully recognized or adequately treated during her childhood and teen years.
OCD can create intense anxiety and a strong need for routines, predictability, and control. When major life changes occur, such as leaving home for college, those disruptions can become overwhelming. For Nikki, the transition to college appears to have intensified the negative thoughts and emotional distress she was already experiencing.
Second: Chemical Sensitivities:
As a dedicated track athlete standing just five feet tall and weighing barely 100 pounds, Nikki trained intensely with the goal of competing as a hurdler. Her commitment required strenuous workouts that often resulted in pain and physical discomfort. To manage those symptoms, she frequently relied on over-the-counter pain relievers and topical products.
Years later, we discovered that Nikki had significant chemical sensitivities. These sensitivities appeared to affect both her physical and emotional well-being, contributing to symptoms that were not fully understood at the time.
Third: Diet
Another factor that may have contributed to Nikki’s depression was her diet. Like many college students, she often relied on fast food and highly processed convenience foods while adjusting to campus life and a demanding schedule.
Years later, Nikki was diagnosed with a glutamate sensitivity, which required significant dietary changes. She has sensitivities to dyes and preservatives as well. Today, she follows a strict diet focused on gluten-free and organic foods. Looking back, it is possible that the foods she was consuming during college were affecting both her physical health and emotional well-being.
Fourth: Prescribed Medications
An additional factor that deserves consideration is Nikki’s exposure to various medications throughout her life, including prescription antibiotics and allergy medications.
One medication of particular concern was Singulair (montelukast), a prescription drug commonly used to treat allergies and asthma. Over time, concerns have been raised about potential neuropsyatric side effects associated with this medication, including mood changes, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts in some individuals. While it is impossible to determine the exact role any single medication played in Nikki’s experience, these potential side effects are important to acknowledge when examining the many factors that may have contributed to her declining mental health.
Looking Back
No single factor fully explains Nikki’s depression. Rather, it appears that a combination of untreated OCD, the stress of major life changes, chemical sensitivities, dietary issues, medication exposure, and the loneliness of being away from home may have created the perfect storm that affected her emotional and mental well-being during her college years.
Realization about Teen Depression:
- Talking about depression can be difficult for both the teen as well as the adult seeking help for the teen
- Depression is common and very real
- It is more than just teen moodiness
- Often the route of the depression may be difficult to see
- There are different types of depression
- Each individual can be affected differently by a type of depression
Types of treatment for Teen Depression:
- Psychotherapy, known as talk therapy
- Medication (All pros and cons should be discussed with your healthcare provider as well as carefully researching all medication as a part of your treatment plan)
- Implementing self-care techniques is important
Recognize: Everyone is different. Each treatment plan should be personalized to the individual. What works for someone may not work for someone else.
Self-care for Teen Depression:
- Healthy diet
- Exercise
- No consumption of alcohol or recreational drugs or limit use, even if legal
- Limit social media
- Do not isolate
- Have a hobby for fun and not just competition
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Note: All information in “Nikki’s Story and Mom’s Story” are based on detail journals covering seven years of Nikki’s life on prescription drugs.
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