| Depression is not particular about what age group | | | | them. It can be as simple as keeping a teen |
| it attacks. It afflicts both the young child and our | | | | involved in social functions or activities. Church |
| seniors alike. Reasons for depression vary, but | | | | groups, ski lessons, musical bands, sports, hunting, |
| one very simple to change reason is that it can | | | | fishing, camping and other activity that has a |
| stem from inactivity. When you have nothing to | | | | purpose. Hobbies are also on that list. A hobby |
| do, or purpose to a day, it gets depressing. | | | | does not have to be taking a car apart and |
| Children may show their depression by bad | | | | putting it back together, but it is a good one. It |
| behavior or as couch potatoes in front of a TV. | | | | allows for interaction between parent and child |
| Adults often become withdrawn and silently slip | | | | One hobby, which all ages enjoy, is collecting |
| into a chair where they eventually do not even | | | | something. It may be hot wheels or model |
| appear to notice the world around them. | | | | horses, trains or even baseball cards. Scrapbook |
| Sometimes it takes leading a depressed individual | | | | albums or collecting dolls from around the world is |
| by the hand and interacting with them on a one | | | | fun for girls, and women love sewing clothing for |
| on one basis to kick start healing. Start slowly by | | | | them. |
| choosing a topic that is of interest and spend a | | | | A hobby opens the door to provide an activity |
| half hour talking about that topic. Find magazines, | | | | that takes a depressed individual away from their |
| books with pictures, or objects that pertain to the | | | | thoughts long enough for moments of relaxation, |
| subject. This can be a slow process, so do not | | | | which the brain requires. |
| become discouraged. | | | | One hobby, which has worked for both the young |
| Sit with a child and play a favorite game. Do not | | | | and the old, is collecting model horses. It can be |
| ignore your children's needs to interact in the | | | | taken to a level of customizing them, which is an |
| imaginary world. Playing with a farm set, or a race | | | | excellent method to alter even the deepest set |
| car track is good. Older children need activity | | | | emotions long enough to gain ground on |
| within the home too. It is their safe haven from | | | | depression. We invite you to visit and view the |
| pier pressure, but can also be their prison cell they | | | | different levels of using this hobby for all ages in |
| retreat to out of depression. Monitor their moods | | | | another article at the old model horse |
| and have ways to alter them ready to put into | | | | informational articles page. Providing the right |
| action. Those moods can stem from many things, | | | | activity will be a good step in keeping depression |
| but when they hit, they can easily manifest into | | | | at bay, but also help pull an individual back out of |
| behavioral problems. | | | | depression. |
| Teens and adults require projects to stimulate | | | | |