Signs of Teen Depression

Teenage depression is something that seems to be becoming more and more common through the years, but in reality it's just being addressed more than it has in the past. The teenage years are full of difficulties - hormonal changes, school work, fitting in, etc. Almost every teen will have occasional bouts of irritability, sadness and frustration, but when these things last for a longer period of time is when depression might be the issue.

Signs of Teenage Depression

- Irritability or anger is one of the most common signs when it comes to depression in teenagers. Unlike adults, where sadness may reign predominantly, teenagers become more easily frustrated, and ongoing anger or hostility towards others - especially when it wasn't there before - is a strong warning sign that something may be wrong.

- Sadness is a strong sign as well, though, especially if hopelessness is paired along with it. Unlike angry outbursts, however, this one isn't always as easy to spot and many times easier to hide from others. But if you realize your teen feels sad much of the time, or starts acting or speaking as if things in life don't matter or that that there's no point to do things such as get up in the morning or study for school - lack of motivation, in other words - then this should not go unnoticed.

- A depressed teenager may also have sudden changes when it comes to eating or sleeping. A loss of appetite or suddenly not seeming to care what they do or don't eat is a telltale sign for depression, as are sleeping issues such as insomnia or even sleeping more often during the day.

- Being unable to fall asleep is another factor that may reveal an underlying problem - anxiety and being unable to shut off the mind at night can lead to insomnia.

- Even if your teen has trouble sleeping at night, he may still seem very tired all the time. He may even even sleep in really late, stay in bed for most of the day, or take many naps. Sometimes this can be the result of not sleeping at night, but is also a physical sign of depression, as the condition is very draining.

- Loss of interest when it comes to things the teen normally likes to do is another sign that shouldn't be ignored, especially if it's very sudden and lasts for a long time. One of the main things we noticed when my brother had depression was the fact that he lost interest in playing video games - something that before he would do nonstop if he was allowed to - and instead just laid in bed all day.

- If your teen is normally a good student but has a sudden drop in grades, he may be depressed. Both concentration difficulties and lack of motivation can lead to this.

- Withdrawing from loved ones and social activities is one of the most prevalent signs that a teenager may be depressed. Of course, when it comes to teenagers, they may keep one or two close friendships, but cut everyone else off. Just remember that they don't necessarily have to withdraw from everyone for it to be a sign of depression. Some things to watch out for is if your teen is less interested in going out with friends, doesn't spend much time with certain people anymore, stays in his room more often than usual and seems to have no interest in being involved with things the rest of the family are doing, or is hanging out with a completely different crowd than usual.

- A depressed teen will probably also have a very low self-esteem and feel overall worthless. If you see signs of such things or self-loathing, it is definitely something to watch out for. In turn he may be more sensitive to criticism and the like.

- And finally, if your teen is thinking constantly about death or suicide, he is probably depressed. If he's quiet about it, you may not know if he is thinking about such things, but signs to watch out for is if he talks a lot or even makes jokes about killing himself, romanticizes death, speaks of himself in self-loathing or hopelessness, or says goodbye to loved ones in a way that seems final. Giving away his belongings, especially those he really cherishes, is another major warning sign. Remember, if your teen starts talking about wanting to die or suicide, it should always be taken seriously and be addressed by a professional right away.

A lot of the things above, when apparent for short periods of time, may be nothing more than the changes a normal teenager undergoes. But use your own judgment - if your teen has a sudden change to these things from his normal personality, or issues such as sadness, hopelessness and anger are going on for a long time, you should talk to him about it.

The only way you should talk to a teenager who may have depression is with open arms and without judgment. Criticism will probably just end up pushing him away, but just letting him know that you've noticed his changes in personality and that you're worried and are always there for him if he wants or needs to talk, can sometimes be all it takes to open the door for him to climb out of his depression. In such cases, be willing to listen without passing judgment on his problems, don't overload him with questions (this can instead make him feel like he's being interrogated), and acknowledge his emotions and that they matter.

Much of the time, though, especially if the depression is very severe or has been going on for quite a long time, your teen may instead try to shut you out or deny that anything is wrong. In this case, you do need to use your own judgment and seek professional help for your child. Even in the slight chance that you're wrong about depression, it's better to be safe than sorry.