Introduction
All teens feel sad or moody sometimes. When sadness or a bad mood lasts for more than weeks, then it can be a sign of depression.
What Is Teen Depression?
Can teens face depression? Let us see. Teen depression is a mental health disorder that causes feelings of sadness and loss of interest in the daily activities of a teenager. It affects how a teenager thinks, feels, and behaves. It causes emotional, functional, and physical problems in them.
Signs and Symptoms of Teen Depression
What are the signs of teen depression? Let's explore some common emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms. The signs and symptoms present with changes from the teenager's previous attitude and behavior, causing significant distress and problems at school or home, in social activities, or in other aspects of life. The symptoms noticed are,
Emotional Symptoms
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Sad feeling.
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Frustration.
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Irritable feeling.
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Feeling hopeless.
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Loss of interest in doing usual activities.
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Low self-esteem.
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Worthless feeling.
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Lack of concentration.
Behavioral Symptoms
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Tiredness.
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Lack of energy.
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Social isolation.
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Poor academic performance.
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Anger outbursts.
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Restlessness.
Physical Symptoms
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Insomnia
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Appetite changes
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Unexplained body aches and headaches.
Causes and Risk Factors of Teen Depression
The exact cause of depression is not known. The various risk factors that result in causing depression are:
Biological Factors
The biological factors involved are:
Brain Chemistry - Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals that carry signals to other parts of the body. When these chemicals become impaired, the function of nerve receptors changes, causing depression.
Hormonal Changes - changes in hormone balance inside the body can trigger depression.
Environmental and Social Triggers
Depression occurs commonly in people whose blood relatives, such as parents or grandparents, also have the condition. Traumatic life events during childhood or physical or emotional abuse or loss of a parent can cause changes in the brain, causing depression.
Underlying Mental Health Conditions
Many other factors increase the risk of developing teen depression, such as
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Having other mental health conditions such as anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, or personality disorder.
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Having issues that negatively affect self-esteem.
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Having a learning disability or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Infographics on causes and risk factors of teen depression
Diagnosis
How can doctors diagnose teen depression? If a doctor suspects depression, they might conduct a physical exam, lab tests, and a psychological evaluation.
Physical Examination - The doctor does a physical examination and also asks questions about the teenager's health in depth to know what causes depression.
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Laboratory Tests - In this, the doctor may advise doing a complete blood test or testing for the thyroid to know whether it is functioning properly.
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Psychological Evaluation - The doctor can talk with your teen about thoughts, feelings, and behavior, and may include a questionnaire. These help in pinpointing the diagnosis.
Treatment
How to help a depressed teenager? Treatment depends on the type and severity of the teen’s depression symptoms. A combination of therapy and medication serves as the best treatment for teens with depression.
Medication
Antidepressants - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications for teen depression: fluoxetine (Prozac) and escitalopram (Lexapro).
Safety Considerations - Most antidepressants are usually safe. Some children, teens, and young adults under 25 years have an increased risk of developing suicidal thoughts while taking antidepressants, especially in the first few weeks after starting or when the dose is changed. They should be watched for any unusual behavior.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for teens. Psychologists use CBT to help them be aware of negative thinking and can make them see situations.
Family Therapy - Family therapy is helpful if family conflict is contributing to a teen's depression. The teen will also need support from family or teachers to deal with any school or peer problems.
Infographics Table: Therapy vs. Medication - Pros and Cons
How Parents and Guardians Can Help?
Communicating with a Depressed Teen - Talk to your teen about the changes you are observing and give them unconditional support. Create an environment where your teen shares their concerns and listens to them.
Encouraging Healthy Habits - Advise teens to eat healthy foods and set regular mealtimes. Encourage doing routine exercise every day to reduce depression symptoms. Set a time for lights off at bedtime without using electronic devices in bed to promote good sleep.
When to Seek Professional Help?
If signs and symptoms of depression continue to interfere in your teen's life, talk to a psychiatrist who is trained to work with adolescents. Your teen's family doctor or pediatrician is a good option to start with treatment.
Coping Strategies for Teens
Can we know some coping strategies for teens? Encourage teens to follow these coping strategies.
Building a Support System - Help your teen build a strong support system with positive friends who lift them up. It's also important to avoid people who bring them down.
Self-Care and Mindfulness Practices - Make teens understand the benefits of taking self-care steps and mindfulness practices to overcome depression.
Managing Stress and Anxiety - Following mindfulness practices such as yoga, mindful walking, swimming, dancing, and cycling helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
Preventing Teen Depression and Relapse - Preventing teen depression involves fostering a combination of healthy habits, creating a supportive environment for teens to express their feelings, and having an early intervention with a psychiatrist as soon as possible when there is a need.
How Parents Can Foster Resilience?
If parents think that their teen is depressed, try to talk with them and show extra love and support. Make them understand you care and want to hear their problems and will give resolution to them. Take teens to consult a psychiatrist. This might help the teen and you to resolve the depressed state by knowing the further treatment options for teen depression.
Recognizing Early Warning Signs
Work closely with your teen's doctor to identify triggers. Enlist the support of family and friends to watch for early warning signs.
Conclusion
Teen depression is a mental health disorder that shows feelings of sadness and loss of interest in the daily activities of a teenager. It affects how a teenager thinks, feels, and behaves, and causes emotional, functional, and physical problems in them. The doctor does a physical examination and asks questions about the teenager's health in depth to know what causes depression, along with laboratory testing. A combination of therapy and medication serves as the best treatment for teens with depression.
Keynote from iCliniq
Teen depression is a mental health issue that affects teenagers causing a depressed state. Ready to take the next step? Talking to a professional can make a huge difference. You're not alone, and some people want to help.
