Depression in teenagers is a mental health problem that causes feelings of sadness and a loss of concentration on activities. It affects their thoughts and behaviour. They experience emotional, functional and physical problems. Depression is not a problem only for teenagers, as it can occur at any time in life due to an unregulated lifestyle and continued stress. However, symptoms are different for different age groups. Teens usually face ups and downs during this age, like peer pressure, academic expectations, changing body structure, etc. Teen depression is not a simple issue that you can overcome with willpower, as it can have serious consequences also. In this situation, they need long-term treatment.
Symptoms of Depression:
At this age, teens usually observe many changes in their bodies, personalities, voices, etc. Therefore, teen depression signs and symptoms include a change from their previous attitude and behaviour, which is sometimes difficult to understand. This change can cause significant distress and problems at their school, home or in social activities. The symptoms of depression can vary in severity. Some of the examples are:
Emotional Changes:
- Frustrations or feelings of anger, even over small matters.
- Loss of interest or pleasure in the usual things.
- Involvement in unnecessary conflicts with family and friends.
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
- Low self-esteem and irritable mood.
- Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure or exaggerated self-blame or self-criticism.
Behavioural changes:
- Less attention to personal hygiene and appearance.
- Social isolation.
- Poor school performance or frequent absences from school.
- Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements.
- Agitation or restlessness-for example, pacing, hand wringing or an inability to sit still.
- Changes in appetite, decreased appetite and weight loss.
- Insomnia or sleeping too much.
- Tiredness and loss of energy.
- Angry outbursts, disruptive or risky behaviour and other acting out behaviours.
If these symptoms continue to develop and interfere in your life, you should take them seriously and consult a doctor. Depression symptoms don’t get better on their own. They may get worse and lead to fatal situations if left untreated.
Causes of Depression:
The exact cause of depression is never known. But depression can develop due to various factors. Some of them-
- Hormones: Changes in hormone levels can cause or trigger depression.
- Negative thinking: depression can develop from the feeling of helplessness. Learn to feel capable of finding a solution to life’s challenges.
- Inherited traits: It is more likely to occur if someone in your family suffers from depression.
- When neurotransmitters are abnormal or impaired, the function of nerve receptors and the nervous system changes, resulting in depression.
- Early childhood trauma: traumatic events of childhood such as physical or emotional abuse loss of parents may cause changes in the brain that make a person more susceptible to depression.
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Risk Factors:
There are many factors responsible for increasing the risk of triggering depression in teenagers. Some of them are-
- Have diseases like bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, personality disorder and anorexia.
- Experiencing ongoing pain or chronic physical illnesses such as cancer, diabetes or asthma.
- Abusing alcohol, nicotine and other drugs.
- Having a learning disability or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
- Having issues related to low self-esteem, like obesity, peer problems, long-term bullying and academic problems.
- Being the victim of violence, like physical or sexual abuse.
Prevention:
- Take steps to control excessive stress. It will help you increase resilience, boost self-esteem and handle issues effectively.
- Be a social being. Reach out to your friends, spend quality time with your family and share your problems with your parents.
- Get treatment if you experience any of the symptoms at their earliest stage. It will help to prevent depression from worsening.
- If the doctor has recommended you for treatment, maintain that. It will help you to prevent a relapse of depression symptoms.
By – Sanchayita Chattopadhyay
