As teenagers, we all had to deal with things like raging hormones, fragile self-esteem, painful self-conscientiousness and the uncertainty of youth. now, it seems society has imposed on our young people pressures that we did not have: the need to look right in front of their peers; the need to wear the right clothing brands; the expectation they will not be too fat or too thin. The problem is, if they do not measure up in some way and they suffer at the hands of their peers, they can fall victim to depression, which, if left untreated, can have serious long-term consequences.
Most young people deal with the trials and tribulations of adolescence without any long-term problems. Like the rest of us, they will get hurt, disappointed, angry and frustrated, but with the right support from friends and family, they will deal with these issues and move on. but there are a number of young people who cannot deal with these same issues without help.
The event or events that trigger depression in teenagers can seem trivial to adults, which means there is the danger we may not take them seriously. this is the worst thing we can do, because the issue is a major one in their eyes. In some ways, it is easier to deal with big events, such as a death of a loved one or loss of a best friend, because we can recognize how this would have an emotional impact and we understand how they would need help. The fact is we need to take all their problems seriously and listen and watch for signs they may not be coping. In order to help them we need to be able to recognize the symptoms of depression.
Here are some of the symptoms we should look for:
- They are sad, down in the dumps, most of the time or they are irritable and tend to overreact with angry outbursts
- Their sleeping pattern has changed - they are sleeping too little or too much
- Their eating habits have changed - they are eating a lot less or a lot more
- They have excessive weight gain or weight loss
- They have lost interest in the usual things they like to do
- Their schoolwork has suffered
- They have difficulty concentrating and remembering
- They are constantly tired
- They feel worthless and keep putting themselves down
- They talk about death or harming themselves
There may be other signs that all is not well with them. The important thing is to be aware of any change in their usual behaviour that could indicate there is a problem. If these changes last for more than two weeks we need to spend time with them to give them a chance to talk about the issues that are worrying them. If they do not want to talk to us, we need to find someone they will talk to or, failing that, we should seek professional help.
Teenagers And Depression - Recognizing The Symptoms Of Depression In Teenagers
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