Things you should know about teen depression
Being a teen today is not a cakewalk. There is so much happening around you, and your life is in constant chaos. As a teen, you need to deal with parents, teachers, peers, and the society. Adolescence is a crucial time of every person’s life, but with that said, it is also a tricky phase. At this stage of your life, you see a lot of physical, emotional, and social changes happening in your life and around you and it will eventually get overwhelming and draining.
Parents with teen kids need to keep in mind that their kids need guidance now more than ever to comprehend what is happening in their life and to make sense of it.
How to identify whether your teen is depressed or is just being a teen?
Depression in teens has become a serious concern today. One in five teenagers today is likely to suffer from depression.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to detect depression in teens. This is mainly because parents take their teen kid’s mood swings lightly because they think that it is them just being a teen. Also, teens are not really vocal with their folks when it comes to talking about their feelings and what is happening in their life.
Symptoms of depression in teens
- Chronic tiredness and lack of interest
- Insomnia
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Binge eating or hardly eating
- Temper issues
- Restlessness
- Withdrawal from society
- Lack of self-confidence
- Self- harm in some extreme cases
- Suicidal thoughts and general hopelessness
Do you need to take your child to the doctor?
If you notice that the depression signs and symptoms are hampering your kid’s life, then you must take some action to improve his or her condition. If you don’t know where to start, then you can first talk to your teen kid and let him or her know that you are there for them. After that, you can talk to your family doctor for professional advice, or you can talk to your kid’s school counselor.
If depression in teens is left untreated, it might then cost you your child’s life. Depression in teens often leads to suicidal attempts and self-harm in many cases so make sure that your kid does not fall victim to it.
Treatment for teen depression
In case of teen depression, it is very essential that the teen gets proper professional help in time. Though every case is different, and the treatment depends on the nature and the behavior of the teen, here are some common effective methods that can help your teen kid to come out of depression.
Medication – Sometimes doctors prescribe pills that will help your teen kid to deal with anxiety and depression.
Interpersonal therapy – This therapy focuses on understanding the family and the social life of the teen and works on improving both these important aspects of the teen’s life.
Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT) – CBT is a common psychological therapy which works wonders in case of teen depression. It helps in changing the way the teen thinks and helps the teen to think positively and have an optimistic approach to life.
With proper professional treatment and support from friends and family, teen depression can be tackled and defeated.
