Wednesday, September 12, 2012

What You Should Do if Your Teen is Showing Symptoms of Depression

By Jessie Olberding


If you are the parent of an adolescent or teen child, it is extremely important that you are able to recognize the symptoms of depression in teens and children. Depression, risky behaviors, and even suicide attempts are unfortunately very common in teenagers and it is vital that parents are able to recognize the symptoms of depression in teens so that they can seek help before it is too late.

The first thing you can do if you suspect your teen is suffering from depression is to seek help from a medical professional that specializes in treating mental disorders. All teens go through moody periods, but it is important to understand when things are more serious. If your teen mentions suicide or seems preoccupied with death, you need to get help immediately. Your teen may not know how to directly ask for help and ignoring the signs of a problem could have serious or even fatal results.

If you notice changes in sleeping or eating habits, isolation from friends and family, complaints of aches or pains that can't be explained, or anxiety or irritability in your teen, these could be symptoms of depression. These symptoms should not be taken lightly and you should schedule an appointment with a doctor. Teenagers suffering from depression may not feel comfortable communicating their feelings to family members, so you need to learn to recognize the symptoms for yourself.

If you see a sudden drop in grades or a loss of interest in the things that your teen used to enjoy, this could be a symptom of depression. Risk taking behavior can also be a sign of depression. These behaviors may include drinking or drug use, promiscuous behavior, and taking other unnecessary risks that put their health or welfare in danger.

Many parents think that these signs are just a phase and that their teen will snap out of it eventually. Unfortunately, this just isn't true most of the time. Most teens will need help if they are going to get through this. Don't be afraid and don't wait to get help for your child.




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