Adolescent Depression

Adolescent depression is a growing diagnosis now days. Whether that is because we are more aware of it today or it's due to today's society is creating it. Many believe that depression in teenagers is nothing more then an excuse for behavioural issues, because adolescent depression often manifests in behavioural ways, such as moodiness, and defiance doesn't mean that there isn't an underlying problem that is much more deeper than the surface behaviour.

Some of the symptoms of adolescent depression are:

- depressed or irritable mood

- temper, agitation

- loss of interest in activities

- reduced pleasure in daily activities

- inability to enjoy activities which used to be sources of pleasure

- change in appetite, usually a loss of appetite but sometimes an increase

- change in weight (unintentional weight loss or unintentional weight gain)

- persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

-excessive daytime sleepiness

- fatigue

- difficulty concentrating

- difficulty making decisions

- memory loss

- preoccupation with self

- feelings of worthlessness, sadness, or self-hatred

- excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt

- acting-out behavior (missing curfews, unusual defiance)

- thoughts about suicide or obsessive fears or worries about death

- plans to commit suicide or actual suicide attempt

- excessively irresponsible behavior pattern

Often teens experience some of these symptoms and it is not related to depression. It's important that if you suspect your teenager is exhibiting some or all of these symptoms to get a health care professional to Asses the situation. Studies have shown that 15-20% of teenagers have had a serious episode of depression. Some of the risk factors for adolescent depression are traumatic experiences, death of a family member or friend, physical, sexual or mental abuse, stress, and chronic illnesses. Depression in teens isn't an easy issue for them or parents to live with. Being a teenager is a difficult time as it is, adding an illness to it doesn't make those awkward years any easier.

Here are some tips in helping your teenager deal with their depression and over come it.

Show you are available to talk:
It's important that you gain your teenagers trust enough that they feel comfortable to come and talk to you. If your teen chooses to talk to someone else like another family member, clergymen or counsellor don't be discouraged. Many teens find it difficult and awkward to talk to their parents about the issues that they are going through and feeling. The important thing is for them to have someone like a reliable adult or professional to talk to. Remember that whether they do come to you to talk or not, let them know you care and that you are always willing to listen.

Encourage your child but don't be a nag:
It's important to continue to encourage your child to do what he or she likes doing. If they were involved in after school sports or activities, often due to depression they may no longer feel like doing those things. It's very important to continue to encourage them to get re-involved in activities. Often depression is an illness that takes time to overcome, if you push your child too much it may begin to develop into a behavioural issue rather then depression. Often they may choose to refuse doing their activities due to defiance rather than depression. Make sure to daily offer a word or two of encouragement to your child and then leave it at that, to much pushing doesn't help them overcome the darkness of depression.

Try To Get Them Involved In Daily Activities:
If your teen doesn't want to attend school at the beginning, pushing them may be worse rather than better. They often deep down want to be normal and return to school but due to the feelings and symptoms of depression it's difficult and often for reasons they themselves don't quite understand. Try getting them involved in daily things. One of the signs of teen depression is being unable to make decisions. Try to encourage them to make simple daily choices. Give them a choice between three different dinners and ask them to choose what they would like to have for dinner. Get them involved in making it. Sometimes teens with depression feel useless or un-important try and make them feel a little more useful by helping with dinner or even dessert.

Bed and Mornings:
If they are home it's important to try and keep them to as much of a routine as possible. Often symptoms of depression are excessive sleeping and or being unable to sleep at night followed by exhaustion during the day. Try and encourage them to awaken in the morning if they want to sleep all day try to find a happy medium. Instead of them arising at thee in the afternoon try for noon. The next week try to encourage them to awaken at 11:30am and go up in half hour increments until they are arising at a suitable time. This can apply to going to bed try to encourage them in half hour increments.

Keep A Positive Attitude:
It's really important to keep a happy attitude when addressing your teen. That's not to say that there shouldn't be any discipline, however, there should be positive enforcement. Instead of shouting or getting frustrated which, can happen as this is just as difficult for the parent or parents as it is for the teen, try and be positive. Keep a positive attitude and try and understand as best you can how your child is feeling. This will help a great deal as when teenagers with depression are spoken to aggressively they will often shut down and tune out.

Try to remember that with proper treatment and sometimes medication this will pass.
Teenage depression is often treated with medication and or psychotherapy. It's important for you as a parent or parents to be involved with your teen's doctor or doctors. If possible attend appointments with them even if it's just for support in the waiting room. Keep lines of communication open with the doctors and be willing to encourage your teen to listen to what the doctor says.

Tips.

If your child is placed on anti-depressants try and keep the pill bottle away from them and only give them one dose at a time. Watch them and make sure that they take the dose to prevent stashing. Sometimes when first starting anti-depressants they may get suicidal thoughts. It's not overly common but it could happen so to prevent this keep an eye on their medication.

If you think your teen is experiences signs of suicide seek medical help as soon as possible. Often they may not experience any symptom that is why it's important to keep a close watch on your child but if they do display any of the following symptoms get medical help.

- withdrawal urge to be alone

- moodiness

- personality change

- threat of suicide

- giving most cherished possessions to others

Always take threats or attempts of suicide seriously.

Through this all there are places to go for help not only for your teen but for parents too. Check your local hospital or ask your doctor if there are any support groups in your area. Or consider starting one. This is not an uncommon illness and often times the best support are other people who are going through the same thing.