If you have a teenager in your life, you know that his life is sometimes full of emotional highs and lows. Moodiness is common with the hormonal fluctuations of adolescence, and knowing when moodiness has turned into depression is sometimes difficult. Depression can be distinguished by the severity of the moods as well as their duration. Depression can also affect several different areas of your teenager's life such as home, school and friendships.
Moodiness in Teenagers
Moodiness in teenagers can come from a variety of sources, as teens are usually coping with several situations at once. Hormones, in addition to causing physical changes, can also cause emotional changes that may feel like a roller-coaster ride. Teenagers often struggle with identity and self-image and being accepted by their peers. The teen years are a transitional time from childhood to adulthood and can be fraught with confusion and conflict. Getting good grades or making the sports team can be additional pressures they or their parents add to the mix. Although moods can shift in minutes, they remain within the realm of what is considered normal.
Teen Depression
Although depression can happen at any age, it is more common in teens than younger children and may begin as early as age 13. The disorder usually peaks sometime between ages 16 and 24. Depression often manifests differently in teens than in adults, with the majority of teenagers experiencing a mixture of symptoms ranging from agitation, anxiety, difficulty paying attention or defiant behavior, rather than the sad or depressed mood adults often experience. The following symptoms are also common: loss of interest in activities; changes in eating and sleeping habits; feelings of worthlessness and guilt; fatigue or lack of energy; tearfulness or frequent crying; and thoughts of death or suicide.
Untreated Teen Depression
If depression in teens is not recognized and treated, it can leader to problems at school such as difficulty concentrating and a drop in grades. A number of teens run away from home or talk about running away as a cry for help. They may try to self-medicate their depression by using alcohol and drugs, or develop an eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia or yo-yo dieting. They may act reckless in their driving habits or by engaging in unsafe sex, or become violent. Self-mutilation such as cutting or burning themselves is almost always a sign of depression, and some may try to escape online with Internet addiction. Seriously depressed teens can think of, talk about or actually attempt suicide. Suicidal thoughts or behaviors should always be taken very seriously.
How You Can Help
Talk to your teenager in a loving and non-judgmental way. Let her know you are there for her without asking a lot of questions. Be gentle but persistent in trying to talk to her, although she may shut you out at first. Try to refrain from criticizing or judging her as she begins to talk, and avoid giving advice she has not asked for. Don't try to talk her out of her feelings or make light of them. Simply acknowledge her feelings. Seek professional help, first with your family doctor, to rule out medical problems. Ask for a referral from your doctor to a mental health counselor or psychologist who specializes in adolescents. Both talk therapy and medications are used to treat teenage depression.
