As the name suggests, depression usually causes a teen to be sad for no apparent reason. The sadness could be accompanied by irritability, anger or anxiety, or these symptoms might be present alone.
Increased rates of physical illness are also common in teens with depression, and they might complain of headaches or stomachaches and be apathetic about school. Poor academic performance in a teen who did not struggle before could be another sign of depression.
If your child or teen cries unexpectedly, is extremely irritable or is highly sensitive to rejection or failure, get him or her evaluated for depression. A doctor will be able to consider the duration and severity of symptoms and decide whether they qualify as depression or normal teenage development.
Other symptoms to look out for include the following along with others not listed:
* A feeling of helplessness
* Hopelessness
* Anger
* Withdrawal from activities they used to enjoy
* Apathy
* Low self-esteem
* Feelings of guilt
* Difficulty concentrating
* Changes in eating habits
* Weight gain or loss
* Substance abuse
* Risky sexual behavior
* Troubled relationships
* Behavior problems
* Suicidal thoughts or actions
Medication is an important aspect of depression treatment. Often, a chemical imbalance in the brain can cause depression, and medication can work to regulate that. Medicine can treat the symptoms, but it can't heal depression alone. Medication is most effective when paired with therapy.
Most commonly, a teen suffering from depression is prescribed antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. These types of drugs include the following:
* Prozac
* Zoloft
* Paxil
* Celexa
* Lexapro
* Luvox
Your doctor will be able to tell you what medication will work best for your teen based on his or her unique needs.
Behavioral and supportive therapy can help teens change destructive thoughts, and teaching positive thinking can help prevent depression in teens and young adults.
Increased rates of physical illness are also common in teens with depression, and they might complain of headaches or stomachaches and be apathetic about school. Poor academic performance in a teen who did not struggle before could be another sign of depression.
If your child or teen cries unexpectedly, is extremely irritable or is highly sensitive to rejection or failure, get him or her evaluated for depression. A doctor will be able to consider the duration and severity of symptoms and decide whether they qualify as depression or normal teenage development.
Other symptoms to look out for include the following along with others not listed:
* A feeling of helplessness
* Hopelessness
* Anger
* Withdrawal from activities they used to enjoy
* Apathy
* Low self-esteem
* Feelings of guilt
* Difficulty concentrating
* Changes in eating habits
* Weight gain or loss
* Substance abuse
* Risky sexual behavior
* Troubled relationships
* Behavior problems
* Suicidal thoughts or actions
Medication is an important aspect of depression treatment. Often, a chemical imbalance in the brain can cause depression, and medication can work to regulate that. Medicine can treat the symptoms, but it can't heal depression alone. Medication is most effective when paired with therapy.
Most commonly, a teen suffering from depression is prescribed antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. These types of drugs include the following:
* Prozac
* Zoloft
* Paxil
* Celexa
* Lexapro
* Luvox
Your doctor will be able to tell you what medication will work best for your teen based on his or her unique needs.
Behavioral and supportive therapy can help teens change destructive thoughts, and teaching positive thinking can help prevent depression in teens and young adults.
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The Communication Blog
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