Is Your Teen at Risk for Depression?
Teenagers can be at the same risk for depression just as an adult can. Adolescence is often a time of dramatic changes that may begin around the age of 12 or 13. These years can be marked by a series of physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that can baffle parents or cause concern. During this time, a teen’s brain is still developing, hormones can begin to surge, signaling the progression of the young person into their teenage years.
One of the most difficult aspects of raising a teen is understanding and keeping up with these changes. It can be considered natural for teenagers to have mood fluctuations, to be rebellious, experimental, withdrawn, and at times unpleasant. With all these changes, it may not always be easy to identify whether your teen’s moodiness is just “growing pains” or if your teen is exhibiting depressive symptoms.
The Truth about Teen Depression
Depression can occur at any time in life, but the upheaval of adolescence puts teens more at risk for depression. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that depression occurs in up to 1 in 12 American teens. The risk is three times higher by the age of 18. Teen girls are more prone than boys, and the condition often coincides with behavior, attention, and learning disorders.
Depression is a complex emotional condition that cannot be attributed to a single cause or trigger. Some of the risk factors include family history, certain difficult life events, and personality traits. Unrealistic academic, social, or family pressures can also create a feeling of rejection and lead to a deep sense of disappointment in teens. Due to this, teenagers may react in ways that seem to be “overreactions” or leave them feeling as if life is not fair. Added to the ever-growing list of concerns are the conflicting messages from society, television, magazines, and social media.
Resistant, belligerent, or aggressive behavior demonstrated by teens may be interpreted as rebellion. However, there could be a deeper cause that needs to be evaluated and treated by a qualified health professional. Without intervention, it can lead to other unhealthy and unproductive habits, such as substance abuse and self-harm.
How Do I Know If My Teen Has Depression?
It can be difficult to tell the difference between the usual ups and downs of teenage life and depression. Depression can be identified based on different symptoms warning you that your teen needs professional help. Although the signs vary in severity, the emotional and behavioral changes must not be dismissed.
A depressed teen may have feelings of sadness accompanied by crying bouts for no apparent reason. There are interchangeable feelings of hopelessness, irritability, frustration, anger, worthlessness, and guilt. The feeling of low self-esteem can be evident in the child’s fixation on past failures or self-blame. With a bleak or grim outlook on the future, a depressed teen may need reassurance.
The behavioral changes to watch out for can include loss of appetite, leading to weight loss, tiredness, lack of energy, and slow speech movement, and thinking. There can also be a tendency to neglect their physical appearance and to avoid socializing, including family and friends. Angry outbursts can be accompanied by risky behaviors, including self-harm.
Symptoms of depression are not likely to improve on their own. In fact, they may worsen or lead to other problems if not treated.
Getting the Help Your Teen Needs
Adolescents need the support and guidance of adults, especially in understanding the emotional and physical changes they are experiencing during this stage. If intrusive symptoms are disrupting your child’s daily functioning, it may be an indication of a serious emotional condition that needs professional intervention.
Unlike an adult who has the ability to seek treatment on their own, your teen is dependent on you in getting the assistance they need. It is critical to spot the symptoms of depression so that effective treatment can be sought to help your teen feel better and lead a healthy life.
At Carolina Counseling Services — Pittsboro, NC, there are licensed, independently contracted counselors who specialize in helping teens recover from depression. When you make a call to request an appointment, your teen will be matched with a counselor that is the right fit for them. Their therapist can offer a safe, encouraging environment for learning the skills to cope with their symptoms. Get your teen’s treatment started by making a call now.