Parents can have a difficult time determining if their teenager is going through normal adolescent angst or dealing with an actual depression. Raging hormones, the fight for independence, the struggle to fit in with peers and the pressures of academics are all part of growing up. But they can also can trigger teenage depression, according to Medline Plus. Concerned parents and loved ones should learn to recognize the signs of adolescent depression, and seek professional intervention and treatment when these signs are present for more than 2 weeks or are particularly severe.
Irritability, Anger or Hostility
Feelings of anger, irritability or hostility are often the predominant signs of adolescent depression, warns HelpGuide.org. While most adults tend to display signs of sadness or melancholy, in teenagers, angry outbursts, hostile comments, "acting out" or constantly trying to pick a fight are warning signs of depression. If the depression is not treated, this could lead to serious issues such as criminal activity or substance abuse. Seek help as early as possible.
Withdrawal
While having an active social life is important to most teenagers, adolescents suffering from depression will often withdraw from people or social situations. HelpGuide.org warns that, unlike depressed adults who tend to withdraw completely, teenagers with depression usually maintain some friendships. Therefore, even if the withdrawal from friends or social situations seems slight, it still could be an indicator of depression. In addition, depressed teens often cease to find pleasure in the activities they once enjoyed.
Changes in Eating or Sleeping
Depressed adolescents will often exhibit changes in their eating or sleeping habits. One depressed teen might eat much more than normal or want to sleep all day long, while another will not seem to have any appetite at all and suffer from insomnia. The important clue to look for is any change in the pattern of eating or sleeping, regardless of what that change might be.
Sensitivity
Because feelings of worthlessness and low self-esteem are a frequent symptom of teenage depression, many depressed teens will become overly sensitive to criticism. Even a well-meaning comment that wouldn't typically invoke much of a reaction could be unusually hurtful to a depressed teen. These teens may also have a more difficult time dealing with failure or rejection because they perceive these things to be confirmation of their worthlessness, warns HelpGuide.org.
Unexplained Aches, Pains or Tiredness
Teenagers who frequently complain about headaches, stomachaches or being unusually tired may also be suffering from depression. However, it is always important to rule out medical causes for these physical ailments before drawing such a conclusion, says Medline Plus.
Frequent Crying
Unexpected, frequent crying or other expressions of sadness can be common warning signs. Sadness and hopelessness are symptoms of teenage depression, and these feelings often show through bouts of crying or excessive tearfulness. Although it is true that many teens will resist crying and become angry instead, others will not.
Poor Grades or Performance
Depressed teens often find it difficult to concentrate, have low energy and experience short-term memory loss, which can lead to poor performance in school, sports or work, says Medline Plus. This can lead to criticism from parents, teachers or even friends, which may exacerbate feelings of worthlessness and deepen the depression.
Suicidal Comments
Any comment made about suicide should be taken seriously, even if the comment was said as a joke or you don't really believe the teen will follow through on the action. With 20 percent of all teenagers seriously contemplating suicide and 8 percent actually attempting it, it is important not to take any chances and call a mental health professional immediately, advises the 2007 article, "Childhood and Adolescent Depression" published in the journal "American Family Physician." References to suicide expressed through creative writing, songs or artwork, should also be taken seriously and brought to the attention of a mental health professional.
