How to Recognize Depression Symptoms in Your Teen

The wild mood swings experienced among most teenagers are usually a normal part of adolescent behavior, although it can become a nightmare for their parents. However, psychologists have conducted studies and have concluded many teens who do experience ups and downs in their moods are in actuality dealing with teenage depression symptoms.

Medical Findings

Although a main list of depression symptoms in teens are still not agreed upon by all medical experts, there are some psychiatrists who believe a small percentage of teenagers do have mood disorders, which are displayed by certain symptoms. And teens that do suffer from depression many times tend to carry their mental illness into adulthood.

Understanding Depression Symptoms in Teens

The number one factor that separates teenage depression symptoms from adult symptoms is that teens have more events and activities to attend that require challenging social interactions, which unfortunately leads to self-esteem issues and symptoms that run rampant during teen years. Also, teens experiencing depression related symptoms usually have increased suicidal thoughts that they act upon.

Teens dealing with depression many times choose to cut themselves off from friendships and social relationships. Other teenage depression symptoms may encompass excessive feelings of boredom, continual lack of interest in day to day life, difficulty concentrating, feelings of anger and sadness, being bothered by small disturbances, problems handling rejection, headaches, trouble sleeping, and eating issues.

Causes of Depression in Teens

Experts are not able to identify one point of origin that they feel is responsible for depression symptoms in teenagers. However, medical experts do believe that a combination of genetic, environmental, and mental factors all tie together to bring about depression faced by today's youth. Also, teens who have strong family histories of depression are more likely to experience depression themselves.

Other factors that may contribute to teenage depression are the lack of ability to create and build friendships as well as the feeling of needing to suppress their sexuality, which is why teenage homosexuals tend to have a higher rate of depression. This is why the distraction of participating in sports and other extracurricular activities helps decrease the rates of teen depression nationwide.

Finally, the personal relationship a teen has with their mother and father can directly relate to their depression symptoms or lack thereof.

Treating and Handling Teens with Depression

Unfortunately, depression symptoms are the leading cause of suicide in teenagers; this is why it is critical for parents, caregivers, and guardians to understand depression symptoms in teenagers as well as to know how to seek help and treatment for their teens. It is the job of these adults to ensure teenagers suffering from depression are cared for and treated in a prompt, efficient manner.

Thankfully, there are quite a few community centers throughout the country that help the parents of teens dealing with depression symptoms to recognize these symptoms and learn how to deal with them. No matter the situation, the optimum solution is to seek the help of a therapist, psychologist, counselor, or psychiatrist who specializes in teenage depression.