Teenagers go through very intense hormonal changes. This, when coupled with their self-conscientiousness and fragile self-esteem, causes dramatic changes in their moods. Above this, teens also deal with peer pressure. Every teen wants to dress and look the best in his or her group. They might be very picky about their appearance and who they hang out with. If they do not measure up to the high standards that their peers have set, they can enter utter despair. When this happens often, they tend to fall victim to depression. As a parent, if you fail to recognize the early symptoms in your children and do not get them treated in a timely manner, depression can have serious long term ill effects.
How Does It Start?
As teenagers, we all went through many situations where we might have been irrational just because things did not go as we wanted them to. Heck, many adults even have the desire to be irrational when things don't go our way. We just know better than to act on it. Nowadays, the pressures on a teenager are even more than what they used to be when we were that age. Sometimes, repetitive disappointments in teenagers push them into deep despair, which surfaces in the form of anguish and depression. They find themselves in a situation where they face lack of motivation, low self-esteem, and substance abuse. A severe form of depression may even lead teens to think about committing suicide or to actually do so. So, the obvious question that comes to mind is how to recognize the symptoms and take action if a child or teen may be exhibiting signs of depression?
Identify the Signs
If a teen is in deep despair or seems to be suffering from depression, he might appear sad and isolated most of the time. When he or she depicts the following signs frequently, then it's time seek outside help by talking to a school counselor, finding a private counselor, and/or seeing the pediatrician. Keep an eye out for these potential symptoms of depression:
€ Sleeping problems: either sleeping to much, not sleeping enough, or trouble falling asleep
€ Feeling extremely irritated or sad all the time
€ Change in eating habits
€ Restlessness and/or fatigue
€ Lack of concentration
€ Feeling hopeless and guilty
€ Frequent complaints about headaches and stomachaches
€ Passing comments and thoughts related to death and suicide
Although the main symptoms of despair and depression in teens and adults are quite similar, some faint differences do exist. For instance, teens might appear to be more irritated than sad. He or she might keep complaining about sleepless nights or become especially disparaging and self-critical.
Observe Behaviors
As parents, we need to be extremely careful when observing the behaviors of our children. Many symptoms that might be considered small or unworthy of attention may be a huge issue for children and teens. Sometimes, parents find it easier to deal with the big problems their teens are experiencing, but the small ones go unnoticed. Therefore, it is important to look for any changes in their behavior and if you notice them for more than a week or two, it is important to talk to your child so that you learn about the problem right away.
Once you know about the problem, you can sort it out by talking to your child and seeking the necessary outside help. In the case that your child will not talk to you about it, it is important to find someone you trust who can talk to your teen. If this does not work, it is time to seek professional help.
How Does It Start?
As teenagers, we all went through many situations where we might have been irrational just because things did not go as we wanted them to. Heck, many adults even have the desire to be irrational when things don't go our way. We just know better than to act on it. Nowadays, the pressures on a teenager are even more than what they used to be when we were that age. Sometimes, repetitive disappointments in teenagers push them into deep despair, which surfaces in the form of anguish and depression. They find themselves in a situation where they face lack of motivation, low self-esteem, and substance abuse. A severe form of depression may even lead teens to think about committing suicide or to actually do so. So, the obvious question that comes to mind is how to recognize the symptoms and take action if a child or teen may be exhibiting signs of depression?
Identify the Signs
If a teen is in deep despair or seems to be suffering from depression, he might appear sad and isolated most of the time. When he or she depicts the following signs frequently, then it's time seek outside help by talking to a school counselor, finding a private counselor, and/or seeing the pediatrician. Keep an eye out for these potential symptoms of depression:
€ Sleeping problems: either sleeping to much, not sleeping enough, or trouble falling asleep
€ Feeling extremely irritated or sad all the time
€ Change in eating habits
€ Restlessness and/or fatigue
€ Lack of concentration
€ Feeling hopeless and guilty
€ Frequent complaints about headaches and stomachaches
€ Passing comments and thoughts related to death and suicide
Although the main symptoms of despair and depression in teens and adults are quite similar, some faint differences do exist. For instance, teens might appear to be more irritated than sad. He or she might keep complaining about sleepless nights or become especially disparaging and self-critical.
Observe Behaviors
As parents, we need to be extremely careful when observing the behaviors of our children. Many symptoms that might be considered small or unworthy of attention may be a huge issue for children and teens. Sometimes, parents find it easier to deal with the big problems their teens are experiencing, but the small ones go unnoticed. Therefore, it is important to look for any changes in their behavior and if you notice them for more than a week or two, it is important to talk to your child so that you learn about the problem right away.
Once you know about the problem, you can sort it out by talking to your child and seeking the necessary outside help. In the case that your child will not talk to you about it, it is important to find someone you trust who can talk to your teen. If this does not work, it is time to seek professional help.
Source...