Although your teenager may seem happy and carefree at times, teenagers face a variety of pressures. From the question about who they are and how they fit into the world to the changes of puberty, there is a lot to deal with.
Considering all the uncertainty and turmoil, it isn’t always easy to spot the difference between teenage growing pains and teen depression.
The truth is, depression in teens goes far beyond the run of the mill moodiness.
In fact, it is a serious health issue that can have a huge impact on every single aspect of your teenager’s life.
Thankfully, depression is treatable, and parents can help. Your guidance, love, and support can go a long way when it comes to helping your teen to beat depression and get their life back on track.
TEEN DEPRESSION – WHAT ARE THE SIGNS?
The teenage years can be extremely difficult to navigate, and the truth is that depression can affect teenagers far more often than we realize.
While the occasional bad mood or display of rebellion is to be expected during the teen years, teen depression is an entirely different ballgame.
The negative effects of teenage depression extend far beyond a bad mood. In fact, depression can eat away at your teenager’s personality and cause an extreme sense of despair, sadness or anger.
Many unhealthy and rebellious behaviors or attitudes can be indicators of teen depression. This is due to the fact that some teenagers will act out in order to attempt to cope with their emotional pain.
IS MY TEENAGER DEPRESSED?
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RUNNING AWAY
Many depressed teenagers will often talk about wanting to run away and some will even do it. These attempts are usually a cry for help and need to be considered.
PROBLEMS AT SCHOOL
A teenager experiencing depression can also be lacking concentration and energy.
Within the school system, this can lead to a significant drop in grades, cheating, poor attendance and frustration with their school work.
This is especially identifiable in those that were formerly good students.
LOW SELF-ESTEEM
Depression can intensify and trigger feelings of shame, ugliness, failure, and unworthiness.
The best gift you can give your child is the gift of self-esteem. It is important that we as parents are fostering their self-esteem while the world around them is tearing them down.
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
Substance abuse only makes things worse, but some teenagers may use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate. It is important to talk to your child early on at a young age about the addictive side of drugs and alcohol.
Even one small use of drugs or one drink can lead a person down the road of a lifetime addiction.
VIOLENCE
Some teenagers that experience depression, can lash out by displaying aggression and becoming violent and easy to anger.
The Anger Workbook for Teens can help your child work through their feelings and show them how to effectively deal with these dangerous emotions.
RECKLESS CHOICES
High risk and dangerous behaviors are commonly displayed by teenagers who are experiencing teen depression. Things like binge drinking, unsafe sex, and reckless driving are all things to watch out for.
WITHDRAWAL
While acting out and extreme behaviors are one sign of teen depression, another red flag is withdrawal.
Has your child always loved hanging out with the family and being with friends? If there is a sudden shift in your child’s personality, this too can be a sign of depression in teenagers.
Check out the book BEYOND THE BLUES: A WORKBOOK TO HELP TEENS OVERCOME DEPRESSION. It’s a great guide to help teens work through their thoughts and feelings alone or with a counselor.
While depression can cause a tremendous amount of pain for your child and disrupt your family life, it is important to try to be understanding.
Listening to your teenager and watching for the signs of depression is incredibly important. When in doubt, always seek the help of a professional.
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