Information To Spot The Indicators And Root Causes Of Teenage Depression
In our nation, diseases are frequently analyzed in the adult and young childhood communities, often under the assumption that people in their teen years are more likely healthy. Consequently, physical problems and conditions impacting the mind sometimes don’t receive the attention merited during the pre-adult years - thus, an affliction such as depression can go unnoticed.
The signs of teenage depression can often be mistaken for typical mood swings and ups and downs often associated with simply being a teenager. So, what’s considered normal? Is a teenager who’s on top of the world in one moment and then suffering from unexplained sadness the next normal or truly depressed?
If you’re a parent of a teenager or a teen yourself, it’s important to recognize and identify both the causes of teenage depression and the apparent symptoms. This is a treatable, but often misdiagnosed condition affecting one fifth of all teenagers throughout the United States.
Recognizing the Signs of Teenage Depression
Too often, parents dismiss the common symptoms associated with teenage depression as just typical teenage behavior. In addition, many teen suffering from this affliction will either hide their feelings or refuse to admit that there’s a potential problem. They may also be averse to seeking help from family or friends.
One of the major signals of teenage depression is fatigue and a lack of focused mental attention, such as the ability to concentrate on a task. The depressed teenager may also be irritable, possibly aggressive and excessively anxious. Parents may be privy to outbursts that include crying, shouting, screaming, complaining or threatening to run away.
As with adults, depression may also become visible in a variety of unexplained and incurable physical problems such as aches and pains, headaches and digestive issues like an upset stomach. Other signs include a change in appetite and subsequent weight gain or loss along with a change in sleeping habits, such as insomnia or chronic fatigue. More serious symptoms include talk or thoughts of suicide or death.
If five or more of the above symptoms are exhibited for a period longer than two weeks, mothers and/or fathers should talk to their teenagers and seek professional help. Of course, if there is a threat of suicide, then parents should seek treatment and intervention immediately.
The Causes of Teenage Depression and its Effects
Typically, teenage depression is brought on by external stress factors in their lives such as divorce, family financial problems, experiencing tragedy, sexual or physical abuse, dealing with drug or alcohol addiction either with themselves or a family member and other high-stress situations.
Other teenagers see depression as a result of being unable to reach particular goals, whether these are social, academic, athletics or body goals. For example, if a teenager has trouble making friends or is rejected by their peers, this can often cause depression. Or when depression runs in the family, the teenager may be genetically disposed to the condition.
As for the effects of teenage depression, the onset can drastically impact a teenager’s family life, social relationships and academic accomplishments. Previous studies have shown that teenagers suffering from depression have higher levels of absenteeism, poorer grades and are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol. Of course, the most severe consequence of teenage depression is suicide, which is why it’s critical to recognize the early signs quickly and seek assistance.
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
No tags for this post.
Tags: 
Loading ...