Depression and Why It May Look Different in Teens
Have you noticed your teen seeming really sad or irritable lately? They may sleep too much or not enough, lose interest in things they used to love, or seem to have no energy. As a parent, you know something isn’t right, but you’re not sure what.
While it could just be normal moodiness, it’s important to consider that your teen may be depressed. Depression manifests differently in teens. They're more likely to seem irritable and angry than sad. They may get into trouble at school, use alcohol or drugs, or engage in risky behaviors.
Teenagers may feel like life isn't worth living or that they have no future. They may talk about death or suicide and lose interest in activities they used to enjoy. It's important to take these signs seriously and get your teen help right away. These actions are often a way for teens to self-medicate in an attempt to improve their mood.
Here is why depression manifests differently in teens, and why early intervention is important to avoid lasting consequences.
How Depression Symptoms May Differ in Teens
Masked Symptoms
Depression in teens often looks different than it does in adults. Teens may seem irritable, get into trouble at school, or act out in anger rather than seem sad. They tend to mask symptoms like feelings of worthlessness or suicidal thoughts. Watch for changes in behavior, appetite, sleep, and activities that used to give them pleasure.
Focus on Physical Symptoms
Rather than discussing feelings of sadness, depressed teens may complain about frequent stomachaches, headaches, or other physical issues. Pay attention if physical symptoms are severe or persistent, especially if doctors can’t find a cause.
Teens with depression may sleep too much or too little and experience changes in appetite, eating too much or too little. If your teen's sleeping and eating habits change dramatically, it could indicate an underlying mood disorder like depression.
Academic Decline
Grades dropping, lack of motivation, inability to concentrate, and loss of interest in school are common signs of depression in teens. If your teen's academic performance changes dramatically, it's worth investigating further.
Depression can make it hard for teens to focus in school. Grades may start to slip and homework doesn't get done. Your teen may have trouble making decisions or seem indecisive. Speaking with teachers and a counselor at your teen's school can help identify issues early on.
Increased Risk-Taking
Some depressed teens engage in reckless behavior, like drinking, drug use, unsafe sex, or dangerous thrill-seeking activities. This behavior may be an attempt to self-medicate or escape problems. Address this behavior immediately through open communication and by seeking professional help.
Importance of Early Intervention
If you notice signs of depression in your teen, get them help as soon as possible. Early intervention can help prevent the condition from worsening and impacting their development and growth.
The teen years are a formative period, and depression can derail important life milestones and social development. Untreated depression makes it difficult for teens to succeed in school, build healthy friendships, and mature into independent adults. Getting treatment quickly helps ensure your teen stays on track and acquires important life skills.
Early treatment also leads to better outcomes. The sooner teens get help, the more responsive they are likely to be to treatment. While depression is usually manageable, the longer it persists without treatment, the worse it can get and the harder it may be to treat. Catching it early gives therapists and doctors the best chance of finding an effective treatment plan right away.
If you’ve noticed symptoms of depression in your teen, like changes in sleep, appetite, mood and behavior, contact me today to book a teen counseling session.
