Depression: A Teen’s Guide to Dealing with It
Teenagers with depression have a variety of different options when it comes to dealing with it. The key is to remember that you are not alone. If you are a teenagers suffering from depression, then understand that it is a real issue, and it is not something that you have to go through by yourself. There is help.
There are a variety of treatment options available to help with teen depression. The first step is realizing that there is an issue, and once you realize this you will then be able to get the treatment that you need.
The Signs of Depression (How do I know if I have depression?)
Recognizing the signs of teen depression may not be as easy as you think. In fact, it is often the case that others recognize it before you do. The symptoms that go along with depression in teens are often different from the symptoms that adults would experience. Some of the first symptoms include:
- Overall feeling of sadness
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Irritability or anger
- Isolation from family and friends
- Lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in sleeping habits
- Fatigue
- Thoughts of self harm
Sometimes teens will experience some of these depression symptoms as their hormones change. When they go from being a child to an adolescent, there are so many changes that go on within the body, and that can trigger some of these symptoms. That does not necessarily mean that they are depressed. Generally, having four or more of these symptoms means that there is depression involved.
How Depression Can Affect Teens
When a teen is dealing with depression, it can often have lasting negative effects. It is important to address these issues quickly so that proper treatment can begin. Here are a few of the most common effects and behaviors that may occur in teens that are suffering from depression:
- Issues at school – this includes poor attendance, poor grades, or a lack of ability to concentrate
- Low self esteem – teens may feel that they are not attractive, which lowers their self worth
- Reckless behaviors – this may include high risk behaviors such as driving recklessly, drinking or sexual promiscuity
If you are having any of these issues, then you may want to seek guidance and counseling for them to help get the bottom of the underlying issues that are causing the issues. First talk to someone you can trust; if not a parent, a teacher, school counselor, aunt or uncle, or another trusted adult. Sometimes just talking through feelings of depression can help.
Treating Depression Effectively in Teens
The key to treating teen depression is to recognize that there’s a problem and ask for some help. Counseling can be very helpful in the process and sometimes medication can also be helpful in relieving some of the overwhelming depression symptoms. Depression should never be ignored, as it many times will continue to become a bigger problem.
If you’re a parent of a teen with signs of depression, talk with your teen about their feelings, and help them to understand that they do not have to work through this alone. When parents are proactive in helping their children overcome depression, it has a much better end result in most cases. Getting help does not have to be difficult, and it is important to realize that the help you need is well within reach.
Doorways offers counseling services for teens and young adults up to age 25 that need assistance with dealing with depression as well as help for parents who suspect that their teen has depression.
