Could My Teen be Depressed?

Teens are often believed to be inherently moody, rebellious and/or dramatic. They can appear to be perpetually concerned with their appearances and what their peers will say. These behaviors are often times blamed on their “raging hormones” and the pruning in the neural connections. With this stereotypical image of a teen in your mind, you may have the tendency to dismiss your teen’s behavior – staying in the room for days on end, diet, sleep patterns or anything that happens behind their bedroom door.

Teen Depression Has No Quintessential Face

You may find yourself saying that your teenager used to be a child with a happy disposition. You may think that the moodiness your child is experiencing is normal for teens, and so are the other unusual behaviors such as; being overly conscious of the weight gain, not wanting to join a school activity, sleeping late and/or feeling sluggish and irritable the day after. In your mind, you may think that your teenager is just being “teen”, so, you may not be worried about their change in behavior.

With the turbulence that can be brought on by your child’s teenage years, it may be beneficial to be aware of the warning signs of depression. Depression does not discriminate and can touch the lives of anyone, it can be important to be open minded regarding this rather than adopting a “not my child” attitude. Symptoms of depression can include; chronic sad mood, loss of interest in things your child used to enjoy, appetite changes, sleep difficulties, difficulty making decisions, low energy, low motivation as well as low self-esteem and possible thoughts of death or suicide.

Comorbidity is Becoming Common

Issues such as school stress, peer pressure, and biological changes can place your adolescent child on a roller coaster of emotions, which he/she may not be able to understand. With all these stresses, more and more teenagers are experiencing symptoms of depression. If these symptoms remain untreated and ignored by adults/parents, they can get worse. These days, the number of cases of comorbidity, combination with other emotional or psychological problem (such as anxiety), is growing. This means that a teen struggling with depression may also be diagnosed with anxiety co-occurring with depression.

The Good News: Depression Is Treatable

Contrary to what most people think, depression is not always difficult to treat. If your teenager can be properly diagnosed and treated early on by an experienced therapist, he/she may soon be getting back to themselves. If you want your child back sooner rather than later, it can be important for your adolescent receives proper diagnosis and treatment.

If there is a slightest suspicion that your child is experiencing symptoms of depression, you may not wish to wait for all the symptoms to appear. Depression can happen even in even the brightest and happiest of individuals. Call Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC. Licensed, independently contracted therapists can assess your child’s own unique needs and provide effective, evidenced based treatment to help your child move past their depression. Don’t wait, call CCS today and schedule your first session.

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