Depression symptom presentation can look different in teens than what you might see with adults. It’s also unfortunately complicated to pinpoint for the fact that those years come with such a wide range of developmental milestones and changes.
Depression can do a number on teens who are suffering, often altering their personality. This can occur before they even know who they are or who they want to be yet.
Life stressors are growing in complexity and only becoming more of a pressure cooker situation as time goes by. Here are some symptoms to watch for with your teen.
Withdrawal
The teen years should be a time for exploring new hobbies and interests while still entertaining those of their more adolescent years. It’s a time to hang on to the last years of childhood, have fun, and participate in all the activities the school has to offer.
Whether your teen is a star athlete, member of the honor society, gaming wizard, or anything in between, they tend to show enthusiasm and excitement when doing what they love. They enjoy spending time with the people involved as well.
One thing to watch for is a loss of interest in any of these activities. Inside or outside of school, a sudden decline in enthusiasm can be a red flag of depression. This includes quitting a team or club activity, withdrawing from friends, or spending more time alone. In more severe cases, it can be a more drastic cry for help in the form of running away from home.
Sadness or Irritability
Depression is a negative beast that can easily overtake a person and their emotions. Most teens aren’t necessarily going to understand that let alone know how to process through it. Teens struggling with depression may not present as a textbook adult would.
Look for things like frequent crying spells or a persistent bad mood. They may display more irritability, agitation, or even anger. Everyone has teen angst, but be on the lookout for more prominent and uncharacteristic mood shifts.
Behavioral Changes
Along with mood changes are behavior changes. This can be more challenging to spot at times due to the ever-changing life of a teenager and the transition from middle school to high school.
Depression can present as an unhealthy change in appetite, energy levels, or sleep patterns. Teens struggling with depression may start to skip meals or eat more than normal. They might spend more time in bed to “sleep away” their stress or battle insomnia. Either of these things can also lead to low energy levels.
Another area to pay attention to is their academic performance. Depression can cause less interest in school or they may struggle due to those changes in appetite, energy, or sleep.
Some depressed teens turn their efforts towards reckless activity or violence as an outlet for their emotions. Such behaviors can include drinking, unsafe sexual activity, adrenaline rush activities, or reckless driving.
How to Help
Consider how long these symptoms have been occurring. Hormones kicking in will balance out and that teen angst isn’t long lived. If it is something that has been pretty consistent, it might be time to intervene. Depression left unaddressed won’t go away on its own.
Have a conversation with your teen in a non-judging way. Express your concerns, but make sure you’re providing love and a safe space for them to open up to you. Ask them to share what they are experiencing and discuss what patterns you have noticed. Try to connect the dots for them.
Aside from conversation, encourage them to return to their social activities and hobbies. You may have to explain why, but ensure them it will help. Encourage self care and physical activity as an outlet for some of the negative emotions they may be experiencing.
If more help is needed, assist them in seeking professional help. There is nothing wrong with needing a little extra guidance. If your teen is struggling, contact us to learn more about depression treatment for teens.