Reasons of teen depression. sign, types and cure.

Teen Depression? Reasons your teen might be depressed.

Teen years are particularly stressful as the body and mind go through several changes. A lot of questions arise in the mind which remains unanswered as teen finds it hard to communicate and share feelings with others. Kids are dependent on parents to help with problems from childhood. They share their everyday events with their parents. But as they get older, problems get complicated and they get overwhelmed with emotions. These bundled-up and secretive emotions lead to depression in teenagers more frequently than many of us know. Depression in teens causes severe health issues leading to a constant feeling of insecurity and loss of enthusiasm for activities. Teen depression is a serious issue that affects any phase of a teen’s life. An adolescent can go into depression for situations like peer pressure, academic expectations, traumatic early life, etc. However, with the help of parents and a professional guide, a teen can overcome depression and get their life back to normal.

• Teen Depression: How Parents Can Offer Support?

Signs

Identifying the signs and symptoms of depression is essential to a teen’s mental care. If the following symptoms are seen in any teen, notify their parents, teachers, or a trusted guardian.

• Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or emptiness.
• Feeling worthless or helpless.
• Irritable or annoyed mood.
• Loss of interest or enjoyment in regular activities.
• Trouble planning, focusing, making choices, and recalling things
• Insomnia or sleeping too much.
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• Drastic changes in appetite or weight
• Tearfulness or frequent crying
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Angry outbursts, destructive or dangerous actions, or other acting actions.
• Suicidal thoughts.

Types of Teen Depression

Adjustment disorder: Occurs as a reaction to an incident that the person considers to be negative such as moving to a new school, an accusation, a denial, a failure, a change of life, etc. It may last from a few hours to a few months.

Dysthymia: Dysthymia affects focus and decision-making. Teens with dysthymia are often agitated and have a negative attitude, low self-esteem, and a sense of failure towards everything. It can last for over a year.

Bipolar Disorder: It is characterized by severe mood changes or episodes of depression. During a manic episode, a teen is likely to talk fast, feel very happy or silly, and be willing to engage in risky behavior.

Major Depression: It is considered the most serious form of depression. Teens might show symptoms like persistent sadness and irritability, talk about suicide, a lack of interest in enjoyable activities, and frequent reports of physical aches and pains.

Why a teen is depressed?

Sadness is a natural response to a loss or a failure, but it typically passes with time. But depression is a different issue and it can be caused due to many reasons.

Early childhood trauma: A traumatic incident, such as the loss of a parent or physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in childhood, may have a lasting impact on the brain of a kid. This harsh memory can be difficult for children to deal with which can lead to depression.

Inherited Traits: The common denominator of depression in people is “Blood relative”. Children who have one or more close relatives with depression, particularly their parents and grandparents, are more likely to have depression themselves.

Learned patterns of negative thinking: Depression may also grow among adolescents who are regularly exposed to negative thoughts. As a result, they feel powerless and inferior compared to others and lose confidence in themselves to resolve life’s challenges.

Social situation/family circumstances: Some adolescents are living in tough social conditions. Domestic violence, drug abuse, poverty, or other family problems may cause stress and lead to teen depression.

Isolation/Feeling lonely: The feeling of being excluded from others, such as friends, families, or groups results in the feeling of low self-esteem, depression, or lack of acceptance. Isolated teenagers are at higher risk of depression which increases the risk of drug abuse or suicide attempts.

Medical conditions/ Medications: Symptoms of depression can be an indication of another medical condition, such as hypothyroidism, bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, a personality disorder, anorexia or bulimia, etc. Few legally prescribed drugs can have depression as a side effect. Many illicit drugs (street drugs) can also cause depression.

How to help those teen

Try to listen instead of lecturing: Avoid passing judgment when a teenager starts talking. It’s necessary for a child communicates and express their emotions. It’s essential to let the teen know that there is someone to listen to them.

Be calm and vigilant: Conversing about depression can be tough for teenagers. They can have a hard time voicing what they feel, even though they want to. Be aware of the child’s level of comfort while continuing to express your interest and willingness to listen.

Understand their feelings: Acknowledging the pain and sadness they are experiencing will go a long way to making them feel heard and protected.

Engage them in social activities: The inability to engage and communicate strengthens the symptoms of depression. Depressed teens usually isolate themselves from their friends and the activities they used to enjoy. Encourage them to go out with friends or join a school club or attend events to regain confidence.

Priority on physical health: A balanced lifestyle, including a healthy diet, adequate sleep, and exercise, will help to manage depression and anxiety. Teens should engage in at least one hour of physical activity a day. Also providing healthy meals to get the nutrients they need for better brain health and mood support is necessary.

As most teenagers have poor exposure to stress, it is beneficial to talk about the stress they are going through. Engaging in school work is important as well as easing expectations at home for chores and student academic achievements. Get counseling if issues with depression don’t get any better. Frequent interaction with parents, appreciation for good conduct, and unconditional support help to create a parent-child connection.

Ways to support the teen in depression treatment

Several approaches are used to treat depression, including medicine and psychotherapy. An adolescent would need support from family or teachers to deal with any school or peer issues. Treatment in a psychiatric unit may sometimes be needed for teens with serious depression.

1. Set goals to keep them occupied and focused. Teens feel bad about themselves when they can’t feel like doing anything. Some workable goals can give them a sense of accomplishment so that they can see their positive outcome.
2. Do something new and creative.  A teen might be good at something like painting cooking or swimming which they are not aware of. Motivate them to do something different. Visit a museum, read a book, volunteer in the soup kitchen, take a different language class, etc. As they figure out something creative about themselves, they will regain confidence in themselves.
3. Give responsibilities. Staying active and having regular commitments will help teenagers maintain a lifestyle that can help to fight depression. A depressed kid will want to give up duties at home and work. Try to keep them engaged. It will empower them with a feeling of being involved with others.
4. Exercise, a healthy diet, and enough sleep will bring peace of mind. Teen needs a perfect amount of sleep to boost their mind and body to face challenges regularly. Playing sports like basketball, football, and lacrosse will help them to cast away negative thoughts.
5. Medication helps with extreme depression, but consult a professional before intake any drugs or medicine. Medication can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of moderate and serious depression, but it is typically not a long-term solution. Antidepressants can have adverse effects and health risks, and quitting them can be very difficult.
6. Psychotherapy is an effective therapy for depression in children and adolescents. The therapy can be taken in a group or one-on-one with a counselor. Therapy will also help you figure out the source of depression and help to understand why they feel a certain way, and what the reasons are for depression.

Parents are the teenager’s best supporters to help them succeed. Let them know that you’re proud of them, that they’re doing a good job by taking care of themselves, doing homework, bonding with the family, or doing things that require effort. They’re going to appreciate that you heard them.

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Get help at an early stage to help avoid depression from getting worse. Continue treatment, if necessary to prevent a worsening of the symptoms of depression. Be compassionate, cooperative, and supportive, even if you don’t completely understand what they are going through.

Writer: Zarin Tasnim
Email: zarindhara@gmail.com

Edited by: Al-Resalat

BA, MA in English Language and Literature