Depression is on the rise becoming one of the most common disorders in the United States. Research has shown that approximately 20 percent of teens have or will have at least one episode of depression before becoming adults. Depression can affect teens regardless of gender, economic status, ethnic background, or school status. Teenage girls are more prone to show signs of depression in teenagers than teenage boys.
Teenagers face a variety of pressures, from the changes of puberty to questions about whom they are and where they fit in. The transition from childhood to adulthood can also bring conflict between teens and their parents as teens begin to assert their independence. A common misconception is that the cause of depression in teenagers is just a phase or an occasional occurrence of bad spirits. Teens may experience strong feelings of stress, self-doubt, pressure to succeed, financial concerns, and other confusions and fears while growing up.
Teen depression is often misdiagnosed and mistaken for other disorders such as conduct disorder, mood disorders, or anxiety. One reason for this is that even though adolescents and teens are often depressed, they may not show obvious signs that might be found in adults with depression. Symptoms of depression in teenagers are sometimes difficult to read, partly because many times they are similar to the common changes teens experience while growing up.
Parents should be concerned if they notice their teen becoming consistently irritable, angry, hostile, withdrawn, or show drops in their grades at school. Often teens will begin to lose interest in activities that they once enjoyed or experience feelings of hopelessness or guilt. Teenagers may have trouble sleeping or show observable changes in eating habits. Social, educational and occupational functioning may also become impaired due to changes in the teen’s mood.
When symptoms exceed those of a “normal” teen, it is critical that the teen see the doctor for an evaluation. Anti-depressant medications are often needed to help teens recover from depression. Combining antidepressant medicine with professional counseling often works best. If the teen has suicidal thoughts in addition to the manic depression in teenagers, more intense treatment may be needed such as hospitalization.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death in young people between the ages 10-25. Suicidal thoughts many times accompany other signs of depression in these young people.
