It’s very common to see teenagers getting excited and getting depressed in no time. Teenage depression is a result of a mental and emotional disorder that both boys and girls experience in this phase of life.
Teens are a considerable period of life when a lot of things happen to their bodies, which manifests in different ways, and it invariably invokes some depression symptoms. On one hand, adolescents approach adulthood and experience a lot of hormonal changes in the body; on the other, they face many social and parental restrictions stuck with them. This situation probably becomes a cause of teenage depression. It’s very important to understand the nature of this depression in order to deal with the condition.
In most cases, depression in teenagers doesn’t linger very long and it disappears as they step into adulthood, but in some cases, it can become very critical, in which the emotional stress of teenage years can greatly affect their personal, educational, family and social life. The impact of adolescent depression can be deep-rooted, and its wave can shake them for longer; it can even raise some suicidal tendencies.
Difference between depression and manic depression
The main difference between depression and manic depression involves episodes of low mood and energy. Manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, includes both depressive episodes and manic episodes. Extreme mood changes can be referred to as manic depression. Timely help from a psychologist can be a great help in dealing with manic depression in teenagers.
Causes of depression in teenagers:
There are some known and some unexplored factors that can cause depression, stress or anxiety among adolescents. Some common causes are:
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- Biological defections
Anatomical research on the human body explains that the normal functioning of brain chemicals is essential for sending signals to other parts of the body. It’s called neurotransmission. But when this process is disturbed, it changes the function of nerve receptors and nerve systems, generating the waves of stress and anxiety among teenagers.
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- Hormonal changes
The teenage years are a period of rapid hormonal changes in the body, which can result in hormonal imbalances. Such a condition triggers more depression in adolescents.
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- Genetic traits
Depression could be inherited from the blood relatives. There are many cases in which children are found to be unusually aggressive, for which their parents or other blood relatives are known.
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- Troubled childhood
Those children who undergo a traumatic situation feel its impact on their emotional, physical and behavioral aspects. Physically or emotionally abused children probably become victims of feelings of dejection, and they easily develop some depression symptoms that are hard to treat.
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- Social and study pressure
The competitive challenges and social norms surrounding certain behaviours can be blamed for imposing extra pressure on teenagers. Such social norms become a cause for concern for adolescents, and the chances are that they may give up before fighting them off. The pressure to excel can cause mental stress in teenagers, leaving them feeling shackled to this norm forever.
Adolescent depression symptoms:
According to a study published in the American Family Physician, about 15% of children and adolescents have some symptoms of depression. The severity of these signs can vary. Some people get confused with these symptoms and correlate them with the typical feelings of adjustment between puberty and adolescence. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) has identified these symptoms, which include emotional and behavioral changes.
Emotional changes:
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- Pertinence of sadness
- Crying for no apparent reason
- Feeling of hopelessness
- Living in an irritable or annoyed mood
- Feeling of anger and frustration over trivial matters
- Disenchantment with daily normal activities
- Loss of interest in family and friends
- Feeling of low confidence and low self-esteem
- Shrouded by a feeling
- Haunted by past failure and previous mistakes
- Criticising and blaming oneself
- Inability to concentrate and remember things
- Frequent thoughts of dying or suicidal feelings
Behavioral changes in teenage depression:
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- Consumption of too much alcohol, smoke or drugs
- Insomnia or sleeping too much
- Agitation and feeling of restlessness
- Getting tired and feeling exhausted easily
- Loving social isolation
- Talk of suicide
- Always eager to put life at risk
- Involvement in brawls over petty matters
- Suffering from unknown phobias
- Frequent bursts at family members
- Staying away from friends and after-school activities
- Declining school performance
Understand normal and abnormal teenage depression symptoms:
It’s a significant responsibility for parents or guardians of teenagers to understand and assess whether their children are behaving normally. They have to keep an eye on the emotional and behavioural traits of their child. They can consult a psychiatrist to understand the consequences of any unusual behavior in children. Parents should also observe if their children are well-groomed and capable of facing life’s challenges without succumbing to them.
Teenage depression test for teens
Diagnosis of teenage stress helps identify the severity level of stress a teen is going through, and to combat it, the emotional and behavioral tests and treatment are helpful:
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- Emotional counseling
- Physical playful activities
- Psychological evaluation
- Infusion of self-confidence
- Removing the mental pressure
- Family support and time
- Easing study pressure
- Balancing hormone levels in the body
Alternatively, many evidence-based treatments work for depression in teens, i.e., CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy), IPT (interpersonal therapy), ABFT (attachment-based family therapy), and MT (music therapy). All these therapies target different aspects of depression. Let the therapist identify what the teen needs and how severe his or her symptoms need to be addressed. Apart from therapies, sometime doctor also prescribes medicines to help teens overcome depression.
How to help a depressed teenager?
There are good natural ways to help a depressed teenager, but before helping, it is important to identify the type of depression the teenager is experiencing. When teens are depressed, many of them feel they are alone, unlovable or distant. Talk to your teen/s without judging them. Let them know how much you care and love them. Tell them that you are there for them and want to hear what they are going through. Your small gestures of caring can help them feel less alone and boost their confidence to share their struggles with you.
