Twenty percent of American teenagers today suffer from at least one symptom of depression. (Teen Depression Statistics) Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts, affecting the way a person eats and sleeps, the way they feel and the way they think about things. things. Symptoms of depression include loss of emotional expression, feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, and social withdrawal (Teenage Depression Statistics). Holden Caulfield, in JD Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, suffers from symptoms of depression. Due to his mental illness, he is a misunderstood and confused young character who is searching for his identity and his place in the world. He suffers from symptoms of depression, which originate from a lack of closure regarding the death of his brother. The devastation Holden experiences after Allie's death is understandable. This unfortunately leads to a lack of personal motivation, low self-esteem and compulsive lying. Holden's inability to think and his stubbornness to ignore the obvious led to a chronic lack of motivation. Holden lacks the ability to motivate himself, which is necessary to survive in the “real” world. Holden doesn't feel the need to motivate himself, because everyone who survives in the "real" world is, in his opinion, impostors. He is incapable of realizing the importance of progress, maturity and responsibility. Compulsive lying is a trait Holden displays. Holden would lie to people just so they couldn't get close to the real Holden. Holden lies repeatedly in an attempt to gain sympathy from others. Holden pathetically informs Mrs. Morrow, "I have to have a little operation...it's not very serious. I have this tiny little tumor...in the middle of a paper......concluding thoughts, Holden Caulfield is a troubled young man who is isolated from the "real" world and the adult world. Holden is stuck on the path from adolescence and innocence to an adult world that he sees as callous and false. identity as he isolates himself from the world and scrutinizes those he considers “imposters.” Because he is so eager to criticize the world around him, Holden is thus differentiated from those in society. has to grow up at some point Holden is unable to understand this idea and this leads to his nervous breakdown If Holden had a less traumatic past and had the ability and drive to connect with others and create and. maintain relationships he would have a less troubling future ahead of him..