What to do if your teenager is depressed

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How to communicate with a depressed teen? How do you get motivated when depressed? Ask for a referral to a mental health clinician from your doctor or nurse, a local mental health clinic or hospital, friends, clergy,.

When people feel depresse it is common for teens to want to lay in bed and isolate. One of the most important things you can do for your teen is to work on strengthening your relationship. Try to build empathy and understanding by putting yourself in their shoes.

You might be frustrated that they seem down and irritable a lot of the time and don’t seem to be doing much of anything to help themselves. Proceed with gentle but firm methods to persuade your teen to get help.

These varied approaches have all been effective in helping depressed teens to move forward. Depression may be present when your teenager has: A sad or irritable mood for most of the day. Not enjoying things that used to make your child happy. A marked change in weight or eating, either up or down.

Sleeping too little at night or too much during the day. No longer wanting to be with family or friends. But in reality, teens struggle with many of the same problems that adults do, including depression. The teen years can be extremely tough and depression affects teenagers far more often than many of us realize.

In fact, it’s estimated that one in five adolescents from all walks of life will suffer from depression at some point during their teen years. No two kids are the same, and it’s important to remain patient with the process to help your child feel safe. Education: Educating your child about depression is a crucial first step. This helps your child understand the possible causes (genetics, environmental factors, bullying, stress), understand brain chemistry (low serotonin), and reduces self-blame.

It also normalizes what your child is going through. If your child is depressed , you probably are scared and feel helpless. Even I, with years of writing about and researching depression , have felt this way in the face of my son’s depression.

There are some ways in which you can help your child , though. What You Can Do if You Think Your Teenager Is Depressed.

You know your teenager better than anyone. If your instincts are telling you that something is deeply wrong, it’s time to take action. Trust yourself, and get help right away. If you suspect there’s a problem, talk to your teen.

When considering if your teenager may be depresse look for events in the recent past that could be leading to depression. The presence of these things, along with changes in mood or behavior, could be a sign of depression. And teen depression often makes problems seem overwhelming and the associated pain unbearable.

Suicide is an act of desperation and teen depression is often the root cause. Keep in min if your teenager is showing one symptom, it does not necessarily mean that they are depressed. In order to meet clinical criteria for depression , there must be five or more of the above symptoms for a period of two weeks, which significantly impacts everyday functioning. Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Priory Group Associate Medical Director. This hopelessness is a classic symptom of depression, and the very thing that gets in the way of healing from it.

Untreated depression causes tremendous suffering and can lead to serious medical and emotional problems, including suicide. Adolescents with untreated depression have difficulty learning and making and keeping friends. Nothing worse for a depressed teenager than to have worried people around.

Don’t feel offended in the slightest if your depressed teen can’t stand your presence if you are a super-worried parent. Simply, your depressed teen doesn’t want more fear added to theirs, already at a high level. Dealing with a child who struggles with mental health issues is hard. You can best help your child if you are not over-stressed and exhausted. Everyone in the family needs to be taken care of.

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