Teens and Depression

By Barbara Reade, L.C.P.C., copyright 2/2009

Teen depression can be very harmful to an adolescent. To know if you teen has sadness or depression the first step is to consider the changes you see in your teen.

Teen depression often looks quite different from adult depression. Sadness may or may not be the symptom that indicates your teen has depression. 

The National Institute of Mental Health lists these symptoms to look for:

• “Acting-out behavior (missing curfews, unusual defiance)
• Appetite changes (usually a loss of appetite but sometimes an increase)
• Criminal behavior (such as shoplifting)
• Depressed or irritable mood
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Episodes of memory loss
• Excessive sleeping or daytime sleepiness
• Excessively irresponsible behavior pattern
• Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
• Failing relations with family and friends
• Faltering school performance
• Fatigue
• Feelings of worthlessness, sadness, or self-hatred
• Loss of interest in activities
• Persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Plans to commit suicide or actual suicide attempt
• Preoccupation with self
• Reduced pleasure in daily activities
• Temper (agitation)
• Thoughts about or obsessive fears or worries about death
• Weight change (unintentional weight loss or gain) “

Others symptoms, can also include:

• Vague aches and pains that have no medical basis (like frequent stomach or head aches)
• Being Easily frustrated
• Sensitivity to criticism
• Low sense of self worth
• Being too easily discouraged
  
  (***Note: teens do not tend to isolate from close friends the way adults do when they are depressed)
  
  If any of these symptoms last for at least 2 weeks and cause significant distress or difficulty functioning, it is important to get treatment.

Depression in teens can be difficult to diagnose because this age group tends to have up and down moods that can change back and forth in hours or days.

Treating a teen early for these symptoms can help avoid long term or permanent problems including:

·         Low self esteem

·         Eating disorders including bulimia and anorexia

·         School problems including lower grades and poor attendance

·         Running away-this is a frequent cry for help from teens

·         Substance abuse (alcohol or drugs)

·         Self injury behaviors

·         Other addictions including internet addiction, gaming addiction, as an escape

·         Violence caused from self-hatred and hatred of others

·         Reckless behaviors including binge drinking, sex, and unsafe driving

·         Suicidal thoughts or wishes. It is imperative to get a teen help immediately if they are speaking of suicide or death wishes.

Treatment:

Treatment should include the supportive care of a medical doctor, counseling, and anti-depressants if medically indicated. Individual therapy, customized to the child, as well as family therapy are usually recommended. The kind and length of both the individual and family therapy varies from family to family depending on the many and different factors that each family faces when trying to get help for their teen.