Teens endure stress from a lot of sources, such as hormone changes, school expectations, and peer pressure. In fact, mental and behavioral health data indicate that these and other factors contribute to depression. Since this health problem can impact every aspect of their lives, it’s important that they get treatment. Learning more about depression in teens can help families identify the problem.
About Teen Depression
As a serious mental health issue, depression causes continuous feelings of sadness and disinterest in once-loved activities. It’s normal to have these feelings after sad events, such as the loss of a loved one. However, there’s a problem when they don’t dissipate. Since they affect how teens act and think, they can cause physical and emotional side effects.
Also, it’s important to know that depression symptoms can vary from teen to teen. Because of that, teen mental health treatment involves using specifiers to pinpoint the type of depression that they have.
Along with lows, anxious distress is restlessness about a possible event or loss of control. Atypical features are temporary happiness, excessive sleep, increased appetite and sensitivity to rejection. Melancholic features involve severe lows with no response to once pleasurable activities, people or things. Agitation, significant appetite changes, guilt, sluggishness and bad moods in the morning are other melancholic features.
Depression in Teens vs Adults
Depression can develop at any point in people’s lives. However, the symptoms could be different between adults and teens. In general, teens tend to have more angry or irritable moods than adults. They might be hostile, have angry outbursts and get frustrated easily.
While adults usually isolate themselves from everyone, teens with depression only isolate themselves from some people. They tend to keep some of their friendships but socialize less than what’s normal for their personalities. In most cases, they distance themselves from their parents.
Also, teens complain more about stomachaches and headaches. However, a physical exam doesn’t provide an explanation. High sensitivity to criticism is another difference between depression in teens and adults. Feelings of worthlessness make them vulnerable to failure, rejection, and criticism.
Treating Teen Depression
Depression treatment depends on the severity and type of depression that teens have. Sometimes, outpatient treatment provides enough support to help them overcome the disorder. Other times, residential treatment is necessary to protect them from self-harm and provide a structured environment.
In any case, a treatment program may include medications. The Food and Drug Administration has approved Lexapro and Prozac for depression in teens. The purpose of these medications is to reduce symptoms so that they can focus on therapy. Most of the time, teens only take medications until the depression is under control.
No matter how severe depression gets, therapy is an essential part of treatment. The reason is that it digs deep into the source of the problem so that teens can overcome it. Therapy also teaches them how to change unhealthy thoughts and behaviors, solve problems and cope with stress. Some examples of therapy for depression include:
- Interpersonal therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Art and music therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Recreational therapy
When teens suffer from other disorders alongside depression, they may need dual diagnosis treatment. If the other disorders involve social media, video game, and similar addictions, they need a process addiction treatment program.
Help Your Teen Overcome Depression
Don’t wait to seek help if you notice signs of teen depression. Find a treatment center that addresses depression in teens. Call the facility for more information about its services.