Don't Let Depression Take Over Your Teen

By Leslie Davis

Being a teenager isn’t always easy. It often means experiencing low self-esteem, becoming apathetic, feeling insecure and lacking motivation.

While it may be normal for your teen to go through many moods and emotions during their teenage years, it is important to make sure that their moods are not extreme enough to constitute teenage depression.

About 20 percent of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood. Adolescent girls are twice as likely to experience depression as boys. Depression can strike at any time, and may be gradual. It can be triggered by almost any event, from getting into a fight with a friend to the pressure of applying for colleges.

Instead of persistently monitoring your teen and asking if they feel depressed, keep an eye out for some of the following signs of teenage depression:

• Isolation from family and friends
• Increased pessimism and hopelessness
• Lack of motivation and low energy
• Loss of interest in activities
• Increased irritability
• Erratic crying
• Low self-esteem
• Change in eating behaviors
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Comments about suicide or running away from home

What Do I Do if My Teen Is Depressed?

Teenage depression is treatable. The first step is to talk to your teen to find out what is bothering them. It may just be that they got a bad grade on that exam they crammed for, but it is worth investigating to find out if it is something more. It is also important to find out if depression or other mood disorders run in your family, as that may be an indicator that your teen’s mood is something you should not ignore.

More serious cases of teenage depression may require professional help in the form of a therapist or a residential treatment program. Therapists can help your teen get to the source of their depression and find effective ways to deal with conflicts and stressors. Your teen may prefer to talk about their problems with a therapist instead of a parent because they may feel like they can be more open. Finding a therapist who works specifically with teenagers will be most effective when it comes to helping your teen overcome depression.

In certain instances, your teen may be provided with anti-depressants to lessen the symptoms of depression. While these are quite effective in treating depression, they can sometimes increase suicidal behavior in teens. If your teen is prescribed an anti-depressant, be sure to keep an eye out for this behavior.

Teen residential treatment programs provide a supportive environment in which your teen can work through depression. It may be that what your teen needs to manage their depression is new surroundings and a structured, nurturing environment. Intensive therapy, positive peer support and a little time away from the daily routine may be enough to help your teen overcome depression.