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Teenager Depression
But though the term "depression" can describe a normal human emotion, it also can refer to a mental health illness. Depressive illness in children and teens is defined when the feelings of depression persist and interfere with a child or adolescent's ability to function. Depression is common in teens and younger children. About 5 percent of children and adolescents in the general population suffer from depression at any given point in time. Children under stress, who experience loss, or who have attentional, learning, conduct or anxiety disorders are at a higher risk for depression. It is important to remember that the behavior of depressed children and teenagers may differ from the behavior of depressed adults. The characteristics vary, with most children and teens having additional psychiatric disorders, such as behavior disorders or substance abuse problems. What Is Wrong with You? Does this question sound familiar? Do you find yourself frustrated by a teen that seems to have no energy or motivation, who sulks around the house or makes angry scenes when you try to get him or her to "just DO something?" If your teenager has shown a persistent pattern of irritable, depressed, or hopeless behavior for more than two weeks, it may be due to clinical depression. Unfortunately, many times when parents see resistant, belligerent, or hostile behavior from a teenaged child, they automatically assume this is normal rebellion. Sometimes there is a deeper problem that can be treated and dealt with by mental health professionals. Depression in adolescents can express itself as irritability, hostility, and anger, which can often lead to missed diagnosis. Teen suicide has become a national problem, and it is no exaggeration to say it is an epidemic. The saddest part is that in most cases of teen suicides, parents, teachers, and friends did not realize the child had a serious clinical depression that required therapeutic and medical intervention. We hope that About Adolescent Depression helps educate parents about teen depression, the risk of suicide, and the treatment options available. Often teenagers react to the pain of depression by getting into trouble: trouble with alcohol, drugs, or sex; trouble with school or bad grades; problems with family or friends. This is another reason why it's important to get treatment for depression before it leads to other trouble. Mental health professionals advise parents to be aware of signs of depression in their children. If one or more of these signs of depression persist parents should sek for help.
More about symptoms of teenage depression • A downward trend in performance at school or college • Change in personal hygiene and appearance • Destructive and/or defiant behavior • Hallucinations or unusual beliefs • Appetite or weight has changed considerably (has lost or gained a substantial amount of weight) • May appear restless, agitated (pacing, wringing hands) or has slowed down (e.g., spends hours staring in front, finds it hard to move) • Has lost a lot of energy, complains of feeling tired all the time • Complaints of feeling guilty or worthless ('everything is my fault', 'I am bad') • Belief that life is not worth living • Snapping at people for no apparent reason - irritable • Physically or verbally aggressive • Abandoning favorite hobbies or sports • Increased passive TV watching • Increased risk-taking; e.g., dangerous driving • Misuse of drugs and alcohol • Changes in school behaviors (including training courses and work settings) • Frequent absences from school poorer grades than formerly • Complains of being bored • Becomes disruptive in class • Finds it harder to stay on task. Loses concentration easily • Mentally confused. Finds decisions difficult to make • Cannot remember commitments - doesn't keep appointments • Has difficulty staying still or conversely, is lethargic • Changes in relationship to family and friends • Stops going out with friends; shows no interest in group outings • Increase or decrease in sexual activity • May start associating with a different peer group • Expresses negativity about family • Loses interest in activities which once were fun • More conflicts with parents and siblings than usual • Changes in eating and sleeping habits • Changes in feeling, thinking and perceiving • Expresses inappropriate guilt, feelings of not being good enough, worthlessness, failure • Expresses hopelessness and having nothing to look forward to • Speaks in a monotonous or monosyllabic manner • Has a preoccupation with self; is withdrawn • Cries easily, looks sad, feels alone or isolated • Has fears about having to be perfect • Fearful of doing something bad • Incidents of self-injury. Ideas of killing self Of course, many of these behaviors are carried out periodically by perfectly normal teenagers, and must be assessed in context with their general behavior. When your teenager is feeling down, it's important to listen and offer help and support them to seek help. Encourage them to: • talk about their feelings (let them know they don't have to carry the whole load) • talk to other people they trust • ask for help when they need it • spend time with their friends • join in sports, school activities or hobbies which they enjoy and that help build their confidence • get involved in organizations that support them and help them to develop interests • exercise (exercise releases brain chemicals which help lift our spirits) • find ways to relax (these can be simple such as seeing a movie or going for a walk or a surf) • write down what they're thinking or to express their thoughts in other creative ways like painting. If your teenager is depressed for a significant period of time it is important to seek professional help. The first point of contacts can be: • Your local Area Health Service including community health centers or specialist child and adolescent mental health services. • Other specialists who work with children and adolescents such as pediatricians, child psychiatrists and psychologists may also be able to provide help. What triggers depression in teenagers? The reasons for depression can vary from adolescent to adolescent. Often, depression results from a confluence of factors: • Significant events such as the death of a loved one, parents' divorce, moving to a new area, or breaking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend can prompt symptoms. Adolescent depression can occur from neglect, prolonged absence from someone who is a source of care and nurturance, abuse and bullying, damage to self-esteem, or too many life changes occurring too quickly. In some teenagers, any major change may provoke depression. • Earlier traumatic experiences such as abuse or incest often emerge and cause great distress as the child becomes a teen. This is because as a young child the victim did not have the life experience or language to process these painful experiences, or to protest. When such memories emerge in adolescence, the distress can be compounded if adults deny or discount the information. • Stress, especially if the adolescent lacks emotional support. • Hormonal/physical changes that occur during puberty also cause new and unexpected emotions. Moodiness and melancholy are often experienced and labeled as depression. • Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism can affect hormone balance and mood. Chronic physical illness also can cause depression. When a medical condition is diagnosed and treated by a doctor, the depression usually disappears. • Substance abuse can cause changes in brain chemistry. • Allergies to foods such as wheat, sugar, and milk cause or exacerbate symptoms of depression. • Nutritional deficiencies may be caused by an amino acid imbalance or vitamin deficiency. • Genetics can predispose a teen to depression when the illness runs in the family. Teenage moodiness is a normal part of adolescent development. In part, it is caused by hormonal changes that cause moods to fluctuate. Just knowing that these mood swings are normal can help reduce the anxiety that often accompanies these intense feelings. However, teens can become depressed beyond normal moodiness, and need help to get past these feelings. How is teenage depression treated? Depression is commonly treated with therapy or with therapy and medication. A combination of approaches is usually most effective: • Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on the causes of the depression and helps change negative thought patterns. • Group therapy is often very helpful for teens, because it breaks down the feelings of isolation that many adolescents experience (sometimes it helps just to know that "I'm not the only one who feels this way"). • Family therapy as an adjunct to individual therapy can address patterns of communication and ways the family can restructure itself to support each member, and can help the teenager feel like others share the responsibility for what happens in the family. • Physical exercise is helpful in lifting depression, as it causes the brain's chemistry to create more endorphins and serotonin, which change mood. • Creative expression through drama, art or music is often a positive outlet for the strong emotions of adolescents. • Volunteer work is sometimes helpful for adolescents. Helping someone else whose problems are greater than one's own offers a perspective and also an opportunity to be helpful, which can increase one's sense of purpose and meaning. • Medication for depression should be used with great caution, and only under careful supervision. Recent studies by both the UK government and the FDA have led to warnings that not all psychiatric drugs may be appropriate for teenagers and children. Seek a physician who works specifically with teenagers. • Hospitalization may be necessary in situations where a teen needs constant observation and care to prevent self-destructive behavior. Hospital adolescent treatment programs usually include individual, group and family counseling as well as medications.
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