Clinical Depression In Catcher In The Rye

Throughout centuries humans have felt melancholy it's what makes us so distinct we are able to feel we are able to express. This all correlates down to not just the adult, but teenagers as well nowadays faced with such stress it's a miracle that we have gone this far. In addition, in the current era teens are hit with more obstacles than ever before. Ranging from school work, work, social groups, family, etc juggling it all is overwhelming. It's not surprising that rates of clinical depression has risen 1 in 5 teens (according to Mental Health America). Furthermore, depression in teens can also be associated to the fact that they are still developing, and that certain hormones are running wild. This is seen in the novel The Catcher in The Rye

Through the novel Holden repeatedly isolates himself from the world as well as his inability to concentrate and his lack of interest in just about anything. Its less obvious that he appears more psychotic than anything else. As the novel progressed so does his depression it gets to a point where he starts fearing that he won’t be able to cross the street intersections, and to help him he talks to his dead brother Allie. Furthermore, a delusional Holden is suffering from more than just clinical depression but as well Borderline personality Disorder. To be diagnosed with bipolar you have to meet at least 5 or more of the criteria, and hence Holden puts forth 5 of the 9 criteria. With having frantic episodes to having unstable and intense interpersonal relationships, alternating between extreme idealization and being constantly mad. Holden tends to lack any self-esteem and he's constantly trying to fill that void of emptiness by indulging in alcohol, smoking, and he never faces the problem instead he runs away. This is proven on how he doesn't care about school and always gets kicked out because of his ideology that everyone is “phony” and that it's his duty to

Therefore, treatments for depression are being sought after, but the main treatments are drugs, psychotherapy, electroshock therapy. Most controversial is the antidepressant taken by teens reason being most drugs are safe for adults around 25 however the effects of it on teens are still being researched. Recent studies from the 2004 Treatment of Adolescent Depression Study (TADS). Showed that 439 depressed teens were treated with CBT, fluoxetine, combination of the two, or a placebo(all are antidepressants for teens). Results pointed to the combination of fluoxetine and CBT, followed by fluoxetine alone, and then CBT and placebo. This further extends the controversy of the effectiveness of antidepressants in teens, and further points treatment to psychotherapy than drugs for teens. Depression isn't a disease but more of emotional state some might stay in that state for a while however everyone gets out. Teens face a multitude of obstacles but there are outlets to relieve the stress, as well as the research that's being done the rate of depression among teens should change in the coming