Most parents worry about drugs, drinking, and fast cars; however there's another danger that might be lurking in plain view. Teen depression can be missed, posing significant risk to your adolescent.
Is Your Teen at Risk?
Everyone becomes depressed from time to time and teenagers are not exempt. Teen behavior is often challenging, as young people explore and push the boundaries-and this can make teenage depression harder to spot.
While youthful high jinks are common, teen depression involves a number of characteristics.
If one or more of the following signs persists, do not delay in seeking treatment for your teenager
- Your teen shows signs of apathy
- Foregoes activities formerly enjoyed
- Boredom and lack of motivation predominate
- You notice a drop in grades or in class attendance
- Your teen complains of stomachaches, headaches, dizziness or other health problems. It's easy to mistake these complaints as excuses for missing school, when the real culprit is teen depression
- Acting out behavior
Other Faces of Teenage Depression
- Has your teen withdrawn from social activities, avoiding friends and spending much time alone?
- Most teenagers spend time holed up in their rooms, listening to music-but what message is the music portraying? A teen's sadness might be revealed by the kind of music he listens to
- Have you come across writings or drawings with a morbid theme?
Another indicator that your teen may be struggling is his/her appearance. Hygiene and grooming may take a backseat if life does not seem worth living; appetite changes can manifest in weight losses or gains.
Teen depression can aggravate feelings of low self-esteem. Your teen may doubt his competence or think he is a failure. This may be compounded by what he believes is rejection.
Has your teen:
- Cried for no apparent reason?
- Become irritable?
- Become sarcastic or abusive toward others?
Teenage Depression Turned Inward
Depression takes a serious turn when a teen inflicts self-injury by cutting, or by turning to drugs or alcohol.
Runaways
While cutting, alcohol, or drug abuse are activities that can be hidden, when a teen runs away from home, this is an obvious cry for help.
Talk of Suicide
If a teen talks of suicide, never ever dismiss this as melodrama or emotional blackmail. Seek help immediately. Depression is a real illness that requires professional evaluation and treatment.
Parents who have lost a teen-ager to suicide have said: “If I had only known . . .”
Now you know what to look for. Check your teen for telltale signs of teen depression.
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