Adolescence—that’s the time when cheerful, reasonably well-behaved kids become touchy, secretive, and rebellious. They listen to appalling music, dress oddly, sleep late, and spend most of their time plugged in to electronic devices. Don’t you remember? You acted the same way, more or less, when you were a teenager.
The up and downs of teenage behavior stem from overactive hormones and the essential developmental task of becoming independent from parents. And it’s nothing to worry about, just a stage to endure. Keep talking to your teens and assure them of your love and confidence in them. Even though they may not show it much overtly, that’s what they need.
But how can you tell when teenage moodiness becomes something more: serious depression? Recognizing depression in a teen can be difficult. Teenagers do not always understand their feelings well, and they may not be able to express their feelings clearly. Besides, they may not recognize the signs of depression or know how important getting help is. In addition, families are busy. So it’s possible that your teen has tried to talk about his or her unhappy feelings, but you have been too busy to listen carefully.
Depression is a disruption of brain chemistry. Its causes are genetic, psychological, and environmental. To identify depression in your youngster, the first thing to keep in mind is that depression lasts. It’s not a one- or two-day reaction to a sad or disappointing event. But if your teen shows several of the following signs for longer than two weeks, he or she may be suffering from depression.
- Major changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Sadness, tearfulness
- Frequent headaches or stomachaches
- Boredom, low energy
- Inability to concentrate, indecision, forgetfulness
- Poor grades or skipping school
- Lack of interest in friends or fun activities
- Feelings of hopelessness, unworthiness, guilt
- Social isolation, lack of communication with others
- Increased anger, irritability
- Running away from home
- Talk of suicide
Depressed teenagers may abuse alcohol or drugs or become sexually promiscuous as a way to try to feel better. These behaviors can only lead to bigger problems such as broken relationships and trouble with the law. Though rare, if left untreated, depression can lead to suicide.
If your teen is depressed, encourage him or her to get professional counseling. Point out that therapy can help people understand their feelings better and learn to cope with difficult situations. Your teen may need medication along with talk therapy. A good place to begin your search for a therapist is with your family doctor. A trusted counselor at your school or place of worship may also have helpful recommendations.
Sara jo Schwartz is an education writer and editor based in Grand Haven, Michigan.