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There are a lot of misconceptions going around about teen depression. Teenagers go through a rough time, which is expected during adolescent years. At times, it's normal for teens to act out, have mood swings, and act angry, but what parents should understand is that teens usually balance out these things with other positive parts in their lives. This is why teens often take their relationships, friendships, sports or other hobbies too seriously. They use these other facets of their lives to balance out teenage angst. However, teenage depression is something different.
Depression can change and even warp and destroy a teen's personality, turning him/her into a person his/her parents could hardly recognize. The truth is that depression affects a lot more teenagers than most people think. However, the sad fact is that only about 20% of depressed teens receive the kind of help that would help them through it. When adults get depressed, they usually have their own means to seek help. Teens who get depressed must rely on the adults around them to recognize their cries for help and do something about it.
If you have a child who you suspect is suffering from teen depression, here are 5 warning signs you shouldn't ignore:
- Withdrawal - Teens who suddenly turn inwards and go out of their way to avoid family and friends could be suffering from depression. At times, parents who are very busy with their careers miss this symptom, especially if the child is naturally shy. However, even the smallest indications of withdrawal could be a red flag.
- Loss of enthusiasm - Teens who suddenly don't seem interested in the things that used to make them happy could be depressed. If your teen drops out of their sport, stops spending time on their favorite hobby, or gets unusually low grades, it's possible that he/she may be battling with depression.
- Changes in eating/sleeping habits - Depressed teens either sleep too little or too much. The same could be said for their eating habits. If you notice your teen oversleeping or waking up extremely late because they can't sleep during the night, it could be a sign of depression. If your teen eats too little, or eats too much, or shows strange changes to their eating habits such as hoarding food, binge eating, and the likes, it could also be a silent cry for help.
- Talking about suicide - If your teen talks about death, even jokingly, it could be a sign of depression. Even words like "there's no way out", "things are better off without me", "I wish I'd just die" should not be taken lightly. If he/she is fixated on the topic of death, that could also be a warning sign that parents need to take seriously.
- Irritability/hostility - Teens can seem angrier about a lot of things than they usually were when they were younger. However, depressed teens would seem excessively angry and hostile about even the simplest things. Showing this kind of attitude could be a sign that there's something darker brewing underneath, and that your teen needs help.
If you suspect your teen to be suffering from depression, take action right away. Even if you're not convinced that the signs you are seeing are signs of depression, if any of the things above apply to your teen, then there's definitely a problem that needs to be addressed. Talk to your teen, offer your support persistently, listen to what they have to say, and get them help as soon as possible.
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