The numbers are surprising, and concerning. One in five Teens will experience Depression. Suicide is now the Third leading cause of death people ages 15-24. Research shows that if Depression is left untreated, there is a strong liklihood that it will occur again, usually within five to seven years.
Teen Depression is not “normal”, or a rite of passage, and it’s so much more than just mood swings. Depression is a medical condition that often presents in a variety of ways, especially in young people.
Symptoms of Depression include:
•Feelings of Sadness, which can include bouts of crying
•Sleep disturbances: Sleeping too much or too little
•Irritability, frustration, Anger
•Feelings of wworthlessness, guilt, self-criticism
•Loss of interest in friends, and once pleasurable activities
•Sudden weight loss, or weight gain
•Non-specific physical complaints (headaches, stomach or body aches)
•Neglected physical appearance
•Self-Harm, such as cutting or burning
•Thoughts of death or suicide
While there is no such thing as a “typical” depressed Teen, in my practice I often see adolescents who are feeling sad, and are acting out their feelings through irritability with parents, withdrawing from friends, and showing a lack of focus in school.
If these symptoms sound familiar, finding help for your Teen should be your next step. Contact your a mental health professional who specializes in working with Adolescent Depression. I offer a free, brief phone assessment to determine if we are a good fit to work together.
The big problem in teen depression is that they are not understood by parents…
They just think “Ah, it’s normal for his age”. And that’s not right opinion, they should think about it more seriously