Navigating Teen Depression: Signs and Support

Depression is no respecter of persons. It doesn’t care how old you are or your popularity. It is common and can affect everyone. When you are a teen and you are suffering from depression, there may be differences in how you present symptoms of depression. Don’t become discouraged. You are not in this alone and there is help available.

As a parent, you don’t want to see your teen suffering. You want to find a way to help them feel better and navigate these emotions that hit hard. The first thing to know as a parent is what teen depression is. It is important to understand that depression is a severe mental health issue that is persistent and can be chronic. In teens, this may manifest as intense feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, and frustration.

Finding out how to help your teen begins with recognizing the symptoms. Parents are normally the ones who notice behavior that is not normal for their teens. When this happens you can keep a log of the behaviors that have changed. This will help you when it comes time to talk to your teen or a Christian counselor in your area.

Understand the risk factors.

One of the best ways to identify the symptoms in your teen is to be able to identify the risk factors that may be associated with teen depression. Some of the most common risk factors to look for in your teen are:

• Other mental health issues (eating disorders, substance abuse).
• Problems at school.
• Traumatic childhood event.
• Learning disabilities.

These are just a few of the risk factors that may indicate there is a chance your teen can or is suffering from teen depression.

Recognize the signs of teen depression.

Some signs will indicate there is a possibility of depression in your teen. Most of the time teens are not able to hide the signs that accompany teen depression. This makes it a little easier for parents to identify whether there is a problem.

There are times when a teen may be extra cranky and tend to listen to music that seems hopeless. They may lose interest in their normal activities and their friends. You may find them staying up late because they are unable to fall asleep. This will cause them to have problems getting up in the morning. There are instances on the other end of the spectrum where the teen may be unable to sit still and you notice repetitive behaviors.

Another sign to be aware of is how they speak about themselves. Most teens suffering from depression will tend to make critical or negative comments about themselves. They may also seem to be infatuated with death. Some may even go as far as giving away the items they treasure. This may be a big indicator that you should talk with your teen and possibly seek a Christian counselor in your area to guide you in helping your teen.

When it comes to physical signs your teen may be complaining of headaches and other body aches. They may have a hard time gaining weight due to a decreased appetite. Most of the signs are behavioral changes that are related to the thoughts that accompany most people who experience depression. They may also seem to have a loss of interest in self-care. Another physical sign is the appearance of self-harm through cutting or burning

If you or the teachers notice a dramatic change in the teen’s academic performance you may need to talk to your teen to be sure there isn’t an underlying learning issue. This can manifest as lower grades, inattentiveness, and inability to focus on assignments. They may even begin to find a way to skip school altogether.

Reach out to your teen.

If you have noticed several symptoms and behaviors that could indicate teen depression don’t hesitate to reach out to your teen. They may be trying to understand what is going on with their thought processes and need you to help them navigate it.

Take time to understand what is normal for your teen and what is not. This will help you address your concerns with them as you help them understand they are not alone in this situation.

There are times when a teen has some type of ups and downs as a normal part of understanding what they are going through. It is up to the parent to help the teen recognize if it is something that can be handled in a productive way or something that may need assistance from a Christian counselor.

Christian counseling for teen depression.

The most effective way to help your teen is to know when they need to get the guidance of a Christian counselor in your area. Through faith-based conversations, a Christian counselor can assist your teen in recognizing triggers. A Christian counselor can also help you decide if medication is something that you may want to discuss with your teen.

No matter what has caused your teen to become depressed remember there is help and you are not alone.