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Depression can be a dangerous thing to deal with for people of all ages, especially for teens who are more likely to experience it. Parents often feel that it's difficult to distinguish between depression and normal teenage mood swings. When depression is left untreated, it can lead to many other issues like substance abuse, dangerous risk-taking, violence, or even suicide. The tragedy is that many parents don't even realize that their teens are depressed until it's already too late.

Sadly, many teens adjust to depression poorly because they have no means of helping themselves unlike adults. They depend on their parents, caregivers or teachers to notice that they need help, and to get that help for them.

Depression help for teenagers:

How can you actually help a depressed teen? Talking to a depressed teen is a crucial part of how to effectively help them. It's important to verbally affirm them of your presence and support. When talking to a depressed teen, don't immediately push them outside their comfort zone. Teens don't usually feel comfortable acknowledging their depression or talking about it. They may not even realize that they are showing signs of depression at all. When your teen starts talking, listen and suppress the urge to lecture.

There are times when your teen will claim that nothing is wrong at school or with his/her friends, and that he/she has no reason to be depressed. If the symptoms of depression has been persistent for a long period of time, it's important to not self-diagnose. Consult the doctor and find out for sure if your teen is depressed or not. Clinical depression can happen to anybody, and it may be possible that your teen needs antidepressant and therapy to be able to deal with the depression effectively.

If you are not sure whether your teen is depressed or just being moody, oftentimes the length of time he/she is showing the symptoms of depression is a good indicator. Here are a few red flags to look out for:

• Irritability - The most predominant and noticeable symptom of depression in teens is being irritable, seemingly in a constant state of anger or agitation, and showing hostility at the slightest provocation.
• Sensitivity to criticism - Depressed teens show extreme sensitivity when people criticize them. They get upset and take to heart any failure or perceived failure.
• Withdrawal - Unlike adults who typically completely withdraw from people when depressed, depressed teens tend to keep a few friendships. However, if you notice your child withdrawing from people that they used to like having in their life, that could be a red flag.
• Fatigue, unexplained pain - Depressed teens often feel tired for no reason, or complain of aches and pains in their body which doesn't seem to have any physical source.
• Loss of interest - Activities that used to matter to (like sports, hobbies, etc) will suddenly become uninteresting for depressed teens. It's not unusual for depressed teens to suddenly quit their team sports or club without any explanation.

Getting depression treated at the earliest time possible can prevent depression from causing any further harm to your teen. Don't take it lightly or trust that it will just pass because oftentimes, it doesn't. At least not without regretable consequences.