What Does Teen Depression Look Like?

Teenagers are known for being moody, making it challenging to identify the symptoms that your daughter or son may be battling depression and need outside help. While there are signs and symptoms of depression, they can be subtle. One of the first signs is the teenager withdraws socially and stops activities they generally enjoy. Your teen may sleep more, have frequent mood changes, and become sad. Behavioral changes including appetite, sleep patterns, academic performance, and energy levels are common. If you notice any of these signs or symptoms in your teenager, consider that your child may have depression. 

Signs and Symptoms of Depression 

Depression will manifest in different ways for different people. It can be challenging to determine whether your teen is experiencing normal ups and downs or teenage depression. It’s important to talk with your teen to determine whether they can deal with challenging feelings or are overwhelmed by life. In addition, observing your teen can give you clues to how they are feeling. 

Some changes you may observe in your teen include:

• Feeling sad, hopeless, or empty

• Crying spells for no reason

• Feelings of anger or frustration over minor matters

• Annoyed or irritable

• Loss of interest in family and friends

• Low self-esteem

• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness, and fixating on the past

• Exaggerated self-criticism or self-blame

• Need for excessive reassurance

• Trouble focusing, concentrating, and thinking

• Inability to make decisions and impaired memory

Types of Depression 

There are two kinds of depression:  major depressive disorder and dysthymia. Major depressive disorder is the most commonly known form of depression with symptoms that may occur in severe episodes that last six to nine months. Dysthymia has milder symptoms, but they often last longer. While experiencing milder symptoms may be less damaging to the child at any given moment, there is a risk of more accrued damage and more time that the child may miss out on healthy development. 

Intervention Is Critical 

If your teenager is depressed, their suffering isn’t the only purpose for seeking professional help. In addition to mental health challenges, poor concentration and low energy can significantly affect academic and social function. If your child is struggling in school, it will affect their academic performance and can damage their self-image and confidence. This can also impact their future if the experience is prolonged. Social learning is just as important as academic studies during a child’s adolescence. If teenagers have social skill deficits, they may not only be behind their peers, but may also notice, which may compound their depression. 

Help is Available

The good news is that involving health care professionals early in the process can shorten the time that your teen will deal with depression. At Calm Again Counseling, our mental health professionals can aid your teen with their mental health. Through different forms of therapy and other healing modalities, we can help your child overcome depression by developing life skills to help them deal with challenges. Give our office a call today to schedule your first appointment. We can help enable your teen to live a happier life!