Feeling sad or moody at times is common in teenagers. But when these sadness or mood swings last for a week or longer, and when there are drastic changes in how a teen behaves, parents must quickly become attentive.
Yes, there are clear warning signs of depression in teenagers.
About 1 in 5 teens deals with depression, making it a serious concern to be identified and addressed as early as possible. As a parent, knowing what to look for can help you get your teen the support they need before clinical depression gets worse and affects their daily lives.
This guide will take you through the common depression signs and what you can do as a parent when your teenager needs depression help.
Understanding Depression in Teenagers
Depression in teenagers is a serious mental health condition characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness and a loss of interest in activities. It mainly affects how your teenager thinks, feels, and behaves. Teenagers usually show different signs of depression based on the intensity of their feelings.
Poor mental health and wellbeing are often associated with depression in teenagers. However, other causes include peer pressure, academic expectations, stressful events, hormonal changes, childhood trauma, and more.
Common Signs of Depression in Teenagers
Although depression can occur at any time in life, its symptoms may vary in teenagers and adults. Parents can notice a variety of signs depending on the severity and understand the need for depression help.
Parents must watch for the following signs of depression in teens;
Persistent Negative Mood
Frequent crying due to an overwhelming sense of hopelessness is a common sign of depression. However, teens with depression may not necessarily appear sad. Instead, irritability and anger may also increase in them.
Low Energy, Effort, and Interest
Teens may lose interest in things due to clinical depression. They may not seem to care. They may put less effort into schoolwork or tasks at home. Things seem to take too much effort, and nothing seems enjoyable anymore.
Disturbed Sleep Cycle
Depressed teens may spend more time sleeping in bed than usual, or conversely, experience insomnia. Their sleep cycles are disturbed with unusual sleeping hours, poor quality of sleep, and weird behaviour at night.
Changes in Eating Habits
Some teens with depression show less interest in food and may lose weight. While the others eat more than before, and may gain weight. Their eating preferences may also change, indicating a need for depression help.
Poor Academic Performance
Depression in teenagers can cause low energy and concentration difficulties. At school, this may lead to poor attendance, a drop in grades, or frustration with schoolwork in a formerly well-performing student.
Aggressive or Violent Behaviour
When depression gets severe, teenagers may show aggressive and violent behavior towards people near them. They might indulge in risky or harmful activities, which may lead to serious outcomes, such as an anxiety attack.
What Parents Can Do After Identifying Signs of Depression?
Teen depression is not just about sadness or mood changes; it is a serious health problem that impacts every aspect of a teen’s life. Luckily, it’s treatable and parents can help their teens overcome depression effectively. As a parent, all you need to know is the right steps to take for depression help.
Here’s what parents can do to help with depression in teenagers;
Listen Them Carefully: Encourage your teen to speak up their thoughts and listen to them closely, without passing any early remarks.
Understand Their Feelings: Try to understand how they feel and behave. Changes in feelings are one of the common signs of depression.
Help Them with Daily Activities: Assist your teens with daily tasks like sleeping and eating to boost their mood and reduce frustration.
Encourage Them to Enjoy: Making little things more enjoyable is an effective way to overcome clinical depression and make teens happier.
Assist in School Work: Help them complete their school work efficiently and achieve better grades, which will foster a sense of success.
Seek Professional Help: If serious symptoms like anxiety attack begin to appear, it is advised to get expert guidance from a professional.
Conclusion
Depression in Teenagers is a serious yet treatable health problem that arises due to various reasons. Recognizing signs of depression requires careful observation of changes in mood, behaviour, and daily functioning.
Remember that teen depression is different from adult depression and often shows up as anger, physical fatigue, and risky behaviors. If parents notice several warning signs, it is ideal to seek professional help through online counselling for depression and ensure healthy, fulfilling lives for their teens.
FAQs
Q. How to tell if a teenager needs depression help?
Different signs of depression, such as persistent sadness, mood swings, weakness, and loss of interest, indicate that a teen is depressed.
Q. Is an anxiety attack a sign of depression in teenagers?
Yes, anxiety attacks are a common sign of depression in teenagers. Anxiety and depression may co-occur due to poor mental health.
Q. What should I do as a parent to treat depression in teenagers?
As a parent, try to offer depression help to your teenagers by talking to them, understanding their feelings, and making things enjoyable.