Signs Your Teen May Be Suffering from Depression
Are you looking for some signs your teen may be suffering from depression? This blog post will share some important information if you are a parent.
It is important that you know that a teenager’s life can be pretty tough. Depression affects more teenagers than people would like to realize. Studies show that one in five teens will suffer from depression in their teenage years. However, keep in mind that it is treatable. However, many teenagers do not get the help that they need.
Keep in mind that depression is more than just moodiness. It is a profoundly genuine problem for your health, and it should be addressed as soon as possible. Parents should be helping but if you do not know the signs, it may be difficult. We are going to talk about some of the signs that your teen may be depressed so that you can better help them.
Is My Child Depressed?
While teenagers are known for their mood swings and acting out, there is more beyond that with depression. Depression is different than that. Plus, the effects are going to be far worse than just a mood swing. Depression can even destroy a person’s sense of personality. This can cause a person to feel many emotions and depression is one of them.
There are many behaviors that would fall under the depression category. However, many parents do not realize that it is falling under this category. We are going to talk about some of the things a teenager might do in order to help you better understand. Keep in mind that teenagers are with depression will often be overwhelmed. They may be sad, angry, or just out of it.
Important Signs That May Indicate Depression In Teens And Adolescents
Running Away
Many people who are depressed, including teens, just want to run away. They are wanting to leave the problems behind them and go somewhere else. Keep in mind that most often, these are their cry for help. They do not know how to ask you for help, so they are going to act out. Running away is one of the biggest cries for help in depressed teens.
School Problems
Depression affects many things, including school performance. This is because depression can cause a teen to feel distracted and less focused. They are going to have lower energy at school as well. This can cause a drop in grades for the teen. The teen may also become frustrated with schoolwork as they would normally not. Even the best students can fail if they are depressed.
Negative Mood *Constant
While people often think of depression as sadness, it is not just sadness. You may experience your teen frequently crying because they are overwhelmed. They may feel hopeless and angry. You may also notice that they are irritable more often and agitated.
Activity Interest Lost
Outside of school you will notice that even your teens favorite activities are not there. They are not doing well and are not enthused about hobbies they were once extremely interested in. This may be a sport, art, or other things. You can expect them to quit team sports or hobbies. They are going to start to withdraw from friends and even family.
Abuse of Substances
Many teens do not know that they are suffering from depression. That is why they may attempt to self-medicate. This usually includes the use of alcohol or even street drugs. The most abused drug is marijuana. However, this is the gateway for many other drugs to be introduced.
Teens who suffer with depression are more likely to become addicts in the future without treatment. Knowing the signs will help prevent this problem.
Low Self-Esteem
Those who suffer from depression often have a low sense of self-esteem. They are going to feel like they are worthless, ugly, and feel ashamed of themselves often. Teenagers are going to feel like they have nothing left and that they are not worth the space. Take the time to know the signs.
Addicted to Technology
Many teenagers tend to go online to try to solve their problems. However, when depressed, this online presence can increase, leading to isolation from family and friends. This can increase the depression as they are isolating themselves.
Violence
In teenage boys who are bullied, they can become aggressive. Teenage girls can also become aggressive and violent. However, it is more common in teenage boys.
Reckless Behavior
Reckless behaviors are often associated with teenage depression. These behaviors could include unsafe sexual behavior, drinking in excess, and even driving recklessly. These behaviors are just some of the behaviors you could see. There are many other high-risk behaviors that you could see as well. This could include self-harm and other behaviors that are not normal for your teen.
Diet/Sleep Changes
If you are looking for signs your teen may be suffering from depression, there are a lot of things to look for. You may notice that your teen is sleeping more or eating more. This is common for those who are depressed. However, you may also notice that they are sleeping less and eating less. Some people experience extreme drowsiness while others experience insomnia. Knowing your teen and what is different for them will help you better understand their depression.
Remember About Depression
Depression appears differently in everyone. That means treatments are going to be different as well. Not everyone will experience the same symptoms and that is why it is important that you know your teen and what is not the same with them. Knowing the signs will help you help them quickly and without trouble.
Wrapping Up: Signs Your Teen May Be Suffering From Depression
Depression is going to be painful for your teenager. It may be difficult for you as well. They may start isolating and becoming less of the family. That is why knowing your teenager and when they are acting different is important. There are plenty of ways to help your teenager as well. Therapy is one option that is useful. Therapy and medication are another option. Take the time to contact Caroline B Goldberg today for your teen’s needs. She is a New Jersey psychotherapist who offers a variety of teen therapy services and adolescent therapy services. You can take a look at her location and therapy services in Wayne below on Google:
With the number one psychotherapy services in New Jersey, you will be well cared for if you choose Caroline B Goldberg, and your teen will be on the mend to a better mental state.
You should now know some signs your teen may be suffering from depression and we wish you all the best.