Many people struggle with depression. Feelings of deep melancholy and utter worthlessness can lead many people to poor job, social, or school performance. These symptoms are often exacerbated in adolescent patients due to certain unique pressures they must deal with. Teens are constantly subjected to peer pressure, strict academic expectations, and massive changes to their bodies that can often leave them at a loss. It’s important for parents, teachers, friends, and others to notice the signs of potential teen depression. Teenagers are naturally more prone to ups and downs than adults. It is up to the other people in their lives to notice when a teenager’s personality has taken a holistic turn for the worse.
Some of the signs of teen depression reflect the potential for poor academic performance. For example, many teens who suffer from depression may sleep through class, refuse to do their homework, or generally be unmotivated to accomplish anything. Constant lethargy is one of the hallmarks of depression regardless of age, but it can be particularly striking in adolescents, who are more often assumed to be young and energetic. Feelings of complete isolation are also common in depressed teens. If you notice a teen spending more and more time alone, it might be time to seek help.
In addition to emotional and physical changes to their bodies, teens may be subject to environmental factors that increase their risk for depression. The loss of a loved one or the divorce of their parents can foster a certain despair in them. In fact, the daunting sense of loss, whether permanent or temporary, can lead to anger, misery, and despair. Beyond that, teens must also face the daily challenge of being judged by their peers at school. They face constant pressure to fit in, to be “cool,” and to perform particularly normative behaviors. This can be especially difficult for teens whose sexual identity is stigmatized. Teens who don’t quite fit into the mainstream can often be targeted for bullying. This can cause them to become even more withdrawn and lose a lot of self-esteem and self-confidence.
Despite all these signs, less than 20% of adolescents with depression receive a proper diagnosis. This is largely because they require a parent, teacher, or other authority figure to notice the symptoms and seek help for them. Unfortunately, many adults are unable to distinguish between normal adolescent behavior and adolescent depression. Feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy can set teens up for a host of problems later in life, or worse, set them up for possible teen suicide. That is why it is increasingly important that parents take an active role in the lives of their adolescent children. It can mean the difference between life and death.
