Life can be full of ups and downs for a teenager as he or she is confronted with challenging issues such as peer pressure, self-identity, academic expectations, surging hormones, and a rapidly changing body. Emotions can change at the drop of a hat. This can sometimes make it difficult to discern whether he or she is just being moody, or whether he or she is suffering from teen depression.
One way to tell the difference between normal teen angst and something more serious is by looking at how long the changes in your teen’s typical mood and behavior patterns have lasted, how severe the symptoms seem to be, and how much they are affecting his or her life.
Following is a list of common signs of teen depression. Some of them can mirror short-term moods and behaviors manifested by most adolescents at one time or another. But exhibiting two or more of these symptoms most of the day, every day, for two weeks or longer is cause for concern. These are red flags that should not be ignored.
Teen depression is a real mental health condition that responds well to treatment. But left untreated, it can lead to serious consequences such as substance abuse and suicide. It is not a sign of weakness. Nor is it something your teen can overcome on his or her own. Better to err on the side of caution and reach out to a trained Mental Health Christian Counselor sooner rather than later.
Common signs of teen depression
- Being sad or irritable most of the day, every day, for no apparent reason.
- Losing interest in things he or she used to enjoy.
- Isolating.
- Avoiding social satiations and withdrawing from family and friends.
- Changes in eating and/or sleeping habits.
- Low energy.
- Lack of motivation or enthusiasm.
- Frequent physical complaints such as headaches, stomachaches, or fatigue that have no medical basis.
- Feeling worthless or hopeless about the future.
- Feeling guilty about things that aren’t his or her fault.
- Trouble concentrating in school.
- A sudden drop in grades at school.
- Frequent absences from school.
- Use of drugs or alcohol.
- Self-harm behavior such as cutting or burning.
- Thoughts of suicide.
- Obsession with death.
Do’s and don’ts if your teenager seems depressed.
- Don’t try to jump in and solve the problem.
- Ask questions and listen without judging.
- Be supportive and empathetic.
- Don’t pressure him or her to talk or open up but let him or her know that you are there for him or her.
- Validate his or her emotions.
- Make sure he or she knows you love him or her unconditionally.
- Don’t minimize what he or she is experiencing.
- Make a point of acknowledging even the smallest positive things he or she does.
- Set up an appointment to have him or her evaluated by your family doctor to rule out any possible underlying medical issue that could be causing the symptoms.
- Have him or her evaluated by a trained mental health professional who specializes in treating teens.
If you have questions and/or would like to set up an appointment to meet with a faith-based counselor at San Diego Christian Counseling who specializes in teen depression, please give us a call.
Melinda Smith, Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal, and Sheldon Reid. “Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression.” HelpGuide.org. helpguide.org/articles/depression/parents-guide-to-teen-depression.htm.
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