Depression in Teens

POSSIBLE WARNING SIGNS of DEPRESSION in TEENS--

If you’re unsure if your child is depressed or just “being a teenager,”

consider how long the symptoms have been going on,

how severe they are, and

how different your child is acting from his or her usual self.

Hormones and stress can explain the occasional bout of teenage angst—

but not continuous and unrelenting unhappiness, lethargy, or irritability.

Extreme moods: Teens are going to be moody—their bodies and hormones are changing and this is natural.

But extreme fits of anger,

long bouts of sadness, tearfulness or frequent crying

seeming hatred towards family members

or a consistently disrespectful attitude

are perhaps warning signs that something deeper is going on.

Pay attention to your teen’s mood swings to try to determine what some of their “triggers” are.

If the extreme moods continue for weeks in the absence of logical triggers, it may be time to explore getting the assessment of a mental health professional.

Unexplained large sums of money:

Is your unemployed or minimum wage-earning teen showing up at home with expensive jewelry, new electronics or fancy clothes you’ve never seen?

Unexplained money, coupled with a withdrawn and defiant teen, can often be the sign of a more serious issue like drug dealing or stealing.

Teens living this lifestyle may also seem to lose money or valuables very quickly, as they trade it for drugs or are in unsafe situations where they have things stolen.

Unhealthy obsession with new friend group:

When your child enters middle school and high school they will inevitably meet new friends.

This is good!

But is your teen changing their behavior,

appearance,

or values to fit in with a new group of friends?

This could be a sign of unhealthy or dangerous friendships, especially if the group your child is trying to fit in with seems to have questionable values.

Self-Harm:

Are there signs that your teen is cutting, burning or in any way mutilating themselves physically? Signs of binging or overeating or starving themselves? If so, get help now.

Consistent dishonesty:

Lying once to go to a party is one thing,

but consistently lying about where they have been and who they have been with

may be a sign that your teen is headed down a dangerous path.

Clearly there is a reason they don’t want you, as the parent, to know where they’ve been.

No remorse for actions:

This is a big one. All teens will make mistakes—some small, some big.

But how do they react when they are caught?

A teen that shows no remorse or guilt for their mistakes has crossed a dangerous line.

If your teen is blatantly defying the rules you have laid out and

doesn’t seem to care if they get caught, seek help.

Isolation:

Are they withdrawing from friends and family?

Have they lost interest in activities?

Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits:

Fatigue or lack of energy

Difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep

Over- or under- eating

What about...

Difficulty concentrating

Lack of enthusiasm or motivation

Unexplained aches and pains

Thoughts or talk of death and/or suicide

A certain amount of moodiness and acting out is par for the course for many teens.

But persistent changes in personality, mood, or behavior are red flags of a deeper problem.