Depression in adolescents is a worrying diagnosis, as it can lead to more severe physical and mental illness and even suicide. Adolescence is a difficult period when we try to know ourselves and go through many emotional and physical changes that prevent us from growing up.
It is impossible to go through this period without difficulties. However, various serious factors can indicate severe mental disorders, such as depression. It is important to keep a close eye on signs that may indicate depression so that you can start treating it as soon as possible. In this case, unpleasant symptoms will quickly disappear.
Depression In Teenagers
According to official research by the World Health Organization, about 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. It often affects children and adolescents from 10 to 19 years. Most experts believe that depression is one of the leading causes of disability in adolescents of both sexes and the third leading cause of suicide.
The National Association of School Psychologists in the United States and the prestigious Mayo Clinic have identified the most common warning signs that need to be detected in time to avoid serious consequences.
1. Sleep Disorders
If a teenager suffers from insomnia or, on the contrary, sleeps almost all the time, this is a sign that something is going wrong. Sleep disturbance is a clear sign of depression, and it can also negatively affect your child’s daily life. Thus, pay attention to the sleeping pattern of your child and ask him if he or she needs help.
2. Violent Actions
When a child begins to resort to violence and bully someone at school, this indicates depression. He or she tries to mask his/her emotions by being violent. This also includes promiscuity and the abuse of alcohol and drugs. Such habits will affect not only your child but your whole family.
Thus, try to have one on one conversation with him or her and convince him/her to get therapy. There are even special programs, such as family therapy for addiction, that focus on improving family relationships and helping an addict get sober. You can get help from such programs and restore your child’s health.
3. Eating Disorders
All eating disorders are accompanied by serious consequences, up to depression. If a child eats too much or too little, this is a sign of emotional or psychological problems. Such conditions may indicate serious illnesses such as anorexia or bulimia. There can be other reasons for such eating orders. However, in any case, you must get help for your child.
4. Loss Of Interest In Hobbies
At a certain age, the usual ways to spend time and have fun change. It is strange if a teenager loses interest in everything that he used to do with enthusiasm. He suddenly stops doing what he likes and prefers to lock himself in his room. This is a clear sign that something is not right and his mental health condition is suffering. You need to give more attention to him and try to convince him to talk to you and share his problems.
5. Sudden Sadness Or Irritability
There are situations in life that can cause tears or anger in teenagers. Often this happens suddenly when you think that everything is fine. In the case of depression, these two emotions become overwhelming and are exacerbated when someone tries to cheer up the teenager. If your child is irritable most of the time, it is another sign of depression.
6. Dissatisfaction With Oneself
At different points in life and for various reasons, teenagers may suffer from low self-esteem and constant dissatisfaction with themselves. The problem arises when they lose control of it. Negative comments become more frequent and dissatisfaction with oneself becomes chronic and destructive.
This signal of depression requires immediate attention. It can lead to more serious problems, both physical and emotional. You need to guide your child that they are competent and negative remarks of people should not bother them.
7. Loss Of Social Connections
This symptom is very characteristic of depressed teenagers. As a rule, they practically do not communicate with friends, move away from them, and prefer to spend time alone. Even if there is a party at college and your child prefers to stay at home, you must ask him the reason. Do not just ignore things and learn what is happening in your child’s life and what things are bothering him.
8. Difficulty Concentrating
Since depression in teenagers is usually accompanied by stress and insomnia, they suffer from problems with concentration. They cannot focus their attention, make decisions, and constantly forget everything. Of course, all this negatively affects school performance. Forgetfulness is a major sign of anxiety and depression so do not ignore it.
9. Suicidal Thoughts
This is a clear sign that the psychological balance of a teenager is not normal. Most of these thoughts connect with the desire to die or the lack of a reason to continue living. This is evidenced, for example, by the phrases “I want to die” or “My life has no meaning.” In more severe and uncontrollable cases, a teenager may attempt suicide or injure himself physically. As a parent, you need to help him before anything serious happens.
10. Escape From Home
This is very common if a teenager is suffering from family problems, does not feel like a full part of it, or is in a bad relationship with one of the family members. Pay close attention to this because after running away from home, your child can get on a crooked path. They may get influenced by bad people and listen to their advice. So if your child has a bad relationship with anyone in the family, let day with his stepdad, you need to make efforts to sort things out.
Take Away
Depression in teenagers has become rather common; thus, as a parent, you need to pay attention to their needs. Try to have more conversations with them and be friends with them. Only this way, they will be able to open up with you and you will be able to help them.