Teenagers And Depression - Recognizing Symptoms Of Depression In Teenagers

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There is a lot of pressure on teenagers today that was not there when we were growing up. The idea that your peer group could dictate the way you look and the way you act, had some relevance when we were young but it did not have the power it seems to have today. Many teenagers work very hard to be accepted by their peers by adopting a certain look or attitude. If they are not accepted by their peers they can suffer stress and anxiety that can eventually lead to depression, which has its own real dangers.

Most young people handle the problems of adolescence without long term issues. With the right support from friends and family, they will move on from the hurt, disappointment, anger and frustration. 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:

1. They are sad, "down in the dumps", most of the time or they are irritable and tend to overreact with angry outbursts

2. Their sleeping pattern has changed - they are sleeping too little or too much

3. Their eating habits have changed - they are eating a lot less or a lot more

4. They have excessive weight gain or weight loss

5. They have lost interest in the usual things they like to do

6. Their schoolwork has suffered

7. They have difficulty concentrating and remembering

8.They are constantly tired

9. They feel worthless and keep putting themselves down

10. They talk about death or harming themselves

There may be other signs that all is not well with them. Any change in their usual behaviour should be noted as this could be a sign 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.

About the Author:
You can get help in dealing with teenage depression by visiting http://www.squidoo.com/teenagers-and-depression William Burnell has 4 adult children and 6 teenage grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews. He has experienced the difficulties of dealing with troubled teenagers.



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