10 Common Symptoms of Depressed Teens

What goes through the head of a young person suffering from depression?

The adolescent stage involves a myriad of changes, both physically and emotionally, and also in the aspect of interpersonal relationships.

It is a key stage in shaping our way of being and approaching adulthood. Hormonal changes and some social situations can make the adolescent more susceptible and irritable, and it is a time when mood disorders can emerge and become evident.. One out of every five young people suffers at some point during this stage from some form of depression. Adolescents with depression can isolate themselves and present a symptomatology of continuous discouragement.

• If this behavior continues for at least six months, it could be a sign that the young person is suffering from some type of depression.

What are the symptoms of depression among young adolescents?

Several international institutions such as the WHO or the American Psychiatric Association have elaborated a series of guidelines that define and describe the describe the various symptoms and signs that warn us that an adolescent may be suffering from depression..

Depression at this stage of life is the third leading cause of suicide. Therefore, we must be aware of this reality in order to be able to act to minimize this problem.

The following are the most common we list the most common symptoms that may indicate that an adolescent may be having a bad time:

1. Sleep disorders

When the adolescent severely changes his or her sleep habits, something may be going on. In some cases, it may be one of the first physical signs of depression.. When the young person sleeps too few or too many hours, the underlying disorder could be depression. In any case, the existence of a symptom does not mean that the person suffers from depression, but it is a warning sign.

• More information on this point: "Sleep disorders: everything you need to know".

2. Abulia: loss of interest

When a teenager who used to enjoy himself and have hobbies and activities he was passionate about loses interest in those things, we should start to worry. We can observe how the young person will be elusive and bored, and will prefer to spend a lot of time without the company of friends or family..

3. Changes in eating behavior

It is often said that extremes are never good. Well, this case is a clear example of that. When someone completely loses the desire to eat, or on the contrary eats in excess, something is wrong.. Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa, can be closely linked to depression.

4. Anger and sobbing for no apparent reason

Spontaneous displays of anger and sadness are quite common among patients suffering from depression. When it comes to adolescents, anger attacks or crying may occur without any observable cause or reason.. If this situation becomes frequent, we should think about seeking help.

5. Progressive abandonment of their friendships

A notorious aspect among adolescents with depression is that they they progressively withdraw from their friends, showing little interest in socializing and preferring to isolate themselves from contact with other people..

6. Poor ability to concentrate and drop in academic performance

The young person who is going through a stage of low moods usually presents a low ability to concentrate often has a poor ability to concentrateThe latter, in addition to various problems in memorizing things and making decisions. These factors, together with a lower motivation for studies, usually result in poorer school results.

7. Low self-esteem and negative self-concept

Low self-esteem is a very common trait among young people in general, but when it becomes persistent, it can lead to poorer school performance. when it becomes persistent, it can lead to self-deprecating comments and can be a sign of depression.. Excessive guilt, exaggerated criticism and emotional dependence on others should also signal that something is going on.

• More on this issue: "Why do I hate myself? Causes and solutions"

8. Aggressive behaviors and flirtation with illegal substances.

In case the adolescent begins to be frequently involved in fights or brawls, to bully some of his peers or to frequent bad company, he could be suffering from a serious underlying problem. In addition, risky sexual behaviors or flirting with alcohol or other drugs would be factors to be taken into account..

9. Running away and other calls for attention

Running away from the family home is one of the possible signs of depression. Occasionally, it may be a defense mechanism of the adolescent, it may be a defense mechanism of the adolescent, seeking to attract the attention of parents..

10. Suicidal thoughts and ideations

This is a sure sign that the adolescent is suffering from a serious mental health problem. **These types of recurrent thoughts about death are verbalized with phrases such as. "I don't want to go on living."**. In more advanced cases, the adolescent may self-harm or attempt suicide.

Five tips for treating depression

Now that we know the different signs that we can observe in an adolescent with this disorder, we are going to explain how we should act (as parents, friends or relatives) in case a young person in our close environment may suffer from depression.

1. Talk to him/her

The first step we can take to find out why the adolescent is behaving strangely is to talk to him/her to try to find out the causes. In fact, there are symptoms that may be present but may not imply an underlying disorder.

In any case, it is important to talk to the adolescent to find out if he/she is aware that his/her behavior has changed and to reach out to him/her if he/she asks for help. If suicidal ideations are evident, it is a good idea not to approach this subject as a taboo. The family, in this type of case, can play an essential role in coming together to help the adolescent feel better..

2. Going to the doctor

We should not be afraid to go to the family doctor. If the symptoms shown by the adolescent are increasingly worrying and difficult to manage, we should go to a specialist in this type of case, for example a psychotherapist. The mental health professional will be able to offer a reliable diagnosis of each case and develop a treatment if necessary, in addition to guiding the parents.The mental health professional will be able to offer a reliable diagnosis of each case and develop a treatment if necessary, in addition to guiding the parents in managing the situation.

3. Psychological therapy rather than drugs

We live in a society that tends to cure everything with drugs. Sometimes treatment with drugs is necessary, and in the case of depressive disorders there are Antidepressant drugs that can be of great help..

Anyway, The ideal is that the young person learns to manage his emotions and to channel his motivation appropriately.and this cannot be achieved with a pill. In cases of mild depression (for example in cases of dysthymia), pharmacological treatment is not necessary. What is truly curative is to find a way to express feelings and emotions, and this is easier to achieve with the therapeutic support of doctors and psychologists.

Educational psychologists can also be very helpful in detecting and treating such cases. They can be instrumental in raising the adolescent's awareness that his or her situation can and should change. In addition, they areare professionals with the ability to adapt the school environment as much as possible to the needs of a student with this disorder..

4. Change habits and routines

Adolescents suffering from depression tend to have very disturbed sleep schedules and are apathetic about routine activities.. For this reason it is advisable to help them develop a well-planned schedule, not too strict but ambitious, in which for example we establish a bedtime and several activities that the young person feels motivated to perform daily.

Being able to share time and space with supportive people can be a dose of positivity.

5. Practicing sports, the oldest therapy

Physical exercise is very positive for anyone, but especially for a young person with depression, but especially for a young person with depression.. Finding an activity that suits the characteristics and needs of the young person can be a fantastic way to channel stress and anxiety, as well as a source of good feelings to minimize their negative emotions..

If this activity is done in a group and outdoors, the positive effects can be even better.

• You can check it out by reading this article: "The 10 psychological benefits of practicing physical exercise".