Depression In Teenagers – The Symptoms and Help

Helping Depression In Teenagers

Depression in teenagers is more common than many people realize. It is a serious problem that impacts every aspect of a teen’s young life. If left untreated, depression in teens can lead to problems at home and school, drug abuse, self-loathing and even irreversible tragedy such as suicide or homicidal violence.

Although depression is highly treatable, experts say only 1 in 5 depressed teens receive help. It is therefore important to learn what depression in teenagers looks like and what to do if or when you spot the warning signs.

Teen depression can be instigated by the many pressures teens face, from the changes of puberty to questions about who they are and where they fit in and parental conflict as teens start to assert their independence. With all this going on, it is not easy to differentiate between depression and normal teenage moodiness.

Teen Depression Symptoms

It is difficult to explain how depression feels, and different people experience it differently. There are however some common problems and symptoms that teens with depression experience. Here are a few of them:

• Constantly feeling irritable, sad or angry.
• Things he or she used to enjoy do not seem to be fun anymore.
• He or she feels bad about themselves accompanied by feelings of worthlessness and guilt.
• Other signs of depression in teenagers include oversleeping or not sleeping enough.
• Frequent unexplained headaches and/or other physical problems such as weight gain or weight loss and
• a lack of concentration in school and at home.

If you miss these symptoms in your teenager, you may want to take a look at the effects of depression. Teens tend to act out in an attempt to cope with their emotional pain. Many rebellious and unhealthy behaviors or attitudes in teenagers are actually indications of depression.

The following are warning signs to look out for. Running away or talking about running away-many teens resort to this as a cry for help. Depressed teens may also turn to internet addiction, drugs and alcohol abuse, reckless behavior, violence and self injury.

So how do you go about handling depression in teenagers?

Well, it is very important that parents or guardians try not to increase pressures on their teen. These teenagers need to be listened to and accepted. Be there as a parent to let them know you are there for them, to support and help them whenever they are ready. Teens are not necessarily looking for someone to give them advice but rather to know they have unconditional love and support (especially through traumatic or stressful times).

Once your teen begins to convey their feelings, let them talk. Be a good listener without throwing out a lot of counsel or blame. Let your teen know the possibility they may be depressed and discuss getting the help they need.

If you see depression’s warning signs, seek professional help. Make an immediate appointment for your teen to see the family physician for a depression screening. As part of the depression screening, the doctor will give your teenager a complete physical exam and take blood samples to check for medical causes of your child’s symptoms. The doctor will then recommend specific treatments for your child.

You should however be very careful that your child does not resort to abuse of any prescription medications. A regular counseling session should also be established for your teen.

Child Depression Medication – Treatments For Depressed Children

Child and Teenage Depression Treatments and Remedies

Treating children who are clinically depressed is quite different from treating adults suffering from the same condition, which is why it is very important to learn about the various child depression medications available and how to use them properly.

It is also important to consult a doctor before giving these medications to your child in order to make sure that the treatment will be both safe and effective.

Choosing the best treatment is not always an easy process, since children may exhibit different reactions to different medications. By doing a lot of research and exercising some patience, it is completely possible to find a child depression remedy that will help you child get through this disorder.

The Selection Process

In trying to find the most effective child depression medication for your child, there are several things you can do in order to conduct your search much more efficiently. For example, you can talk to other parents whose children have gone through the same condition, and ask them about the medications that they had used.

This way, you can learn which remedies work well for more people, as well as find out what possible side effects you can expect from the use of certain medications. The more you learn about a particular child depression medication, the more easily you can make a decision as to whether it is the right one to use or not.

Natural Remedies For Child Depression Medication

One of the important things that parents have to keep in mind while looking for a treatment for teen depression medication, is that it may require some amount of trial and error before being able to locate the most effective treatment. Many have side effects, so please take this into consideration, as your doctor will too. Therefore, you shouldn’t lose hope right away if your child does not like the taste of a certain medication or if it comes with negative side effects.

With all the remedies available today, there is sure to be at least one out there that will  help them. There are a few natural remedies to help with treating depression and anxiety in children. Plus new brands of child depression medications are being manufactured practically everyday, and your doctor will be able to help you decide on which ones you should try first.

Oftentimes, when a child is clinically depressed, the parents are just as affected by the disorder as the child, sometimes even more so. But instead of becoming despondent about your child’s disorder, you should direct your energy towards helping them find the best child depression and anxiety treatment, as well as providing them with the moral support that they surely need at this time in their life.