Backround: Depression is a growing health problem all over the world and the age group that shows the most increase are the adolescents.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe adolescents' experiences of depression.

Method: The method used in this study is a literature study which includes compiled research about the experience of depression in adolescents and has brought out themes of similarities.

Results: Findings show that adolescents perceive and experience a great deal of feelings such as fear and loneliness in relation to depression. They suffer from the struggles of daily life and most of them express fears of being seen as mentally ill and therefor being perceived as different. Adolescents express the need of turning to something to help them cope with these strong feelings that depression brings forward. Isolation, distraction and self-harm are some of the examples of ways that adolescents describe in trying to cope with their depression. Findings also show that adolescents wish to be treated as unique individuals and for the carers to listen to their stories.

Conclusion: Care given to adolescents with depression needs to be more patient-focused so that the adolescents' own experiences and perceptions get more attention during treatment. Our conclusion is that more research is needed, focusing on the adolescents' own experiences of depression.