Teens suffer from mood swings. They have days where they're angry, sad, irritable or stressed out, but many teens learn how to cope with stress in a healthy manner. Being blue on occasion is normal for an adolescent, but when the feelings of sadness or irritability impact the teen's ability to be successful at school and maintain healthy relationships, he might be suffering from depression.
Symptoms
Symptoms of teen depression include sadness, hopelessness, irritability, issues with eating and sleeping, isolation, restlessness, fatigue, trouble concentrating and suicidal ideation, according to Helpguide.org. A teen who's suffering from depression will probably experience a drop in her grades. Her parents could get calls home from teachers who are worried about the teen's change in mood, attitude and focus. The teen will stop doing things that used to bring her pleasure. For instance, she might quit the soccer team, come home directly after school instead of spending time with friends and refuse to answer her friends' phone calls.
Types
The basic symptoms of all types of teen depression are similar, but it's important to receive a specific diagnosis in order to get effective treatment. Types of teen depression include major depression, dysthymic disorder and postpartum depression. If a teen suffers from major depression or postpartum depression, she's more likely to have thoughts of suicide than if she suffers from dysthymic disorder, which is a milder form of depression that is only diagnosed once the teen experiences a sad or irritable mood for at least one year. The main difference between major depression and postpartum depression is that postpartum depression occurs within one month of a teen giving birth.
Causes
According to Teen's Health, many factors contribute to teen depression. There isn't one specific cause. Teens are more likely to suffer from depression if they have a family history of the disorder or have a medical condition that interferes with their level of hormones. Significant life events such as a teen's parents getting a divorce or experiencing the death of a best friend can impact a teen's mood and increase depression. A teen's environment and family life also plays a role in depression.
Treatment
Treatment for teen depression includes a combination of medication and therapy. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that SSRIs, a type of antidepressant, are the most common form of medication used in treating teen depression. Any teen taking antidepressants should be closely monitored by a medical professional, because there may be an increase in thoughts of suicide.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common form of individual therapy used in treating teen depression. In cognitive behavioral therapy, the therapist works with the teen to help him understand how his thoughts affect his emotions and behaviors.
Warning
Teens who suffer from depression are more likely to commit suicide than teens who don't suffer from mental illness. Signs of suicidal ideation include writing poems or drawing about death, talking about death and dying, saying goodbye to friends and family members, giving away prized possessions, isolation and obtaining the means to kill oneself. A teen who's experiencing suicidal ideation should get help immediately. The teen's parents can take him to their local psychiatric emergency room or call the police for assistance.
