Teenage depression is perhaps the worst of the bunch and the early age that it occurs makes it harder to combat than with your average adults. In young teenagers, the hormones are running wild and they are often adamant about disregarding the advice of people that care and avoiding any assistance from their loved ones. Tackling teen depression can still have a positive outcome, but it will be a long and intense battle for most parents. However, with the tips below and the advice from others, you can make any day the last day they’ll wake up depressed.
First and foremost, you must identify when a teenager is depressed and this can be a tough one. With their usual attitudes and melancholy approaches to everything around them, depression often blends right on in and false-claims appear just as often as it is missed. The key is knowing your teen and spending the time to speak with them each and every day. When they seem upset or disheartened about a situation, speak with them and find out what is different in their lives.
Cause of Teenage Depression
Family issues are often at the root cause of teenage depression. Most noticeably, deaths and divorce in the family are a major influence with any teenager. If either of the two has occurred recently, make certain that you spend some time speaking with the teenager and discussing how they feel about the situation. Naturally, most teens will recoil from the idea, but with some pressure and compassion, it is possible to have them share their inner thoughts.
A therapist is a great way to get a fresh set of eyes and ears on the teenager. The fact that they don’t see them on a day-to-day basis or that they aren’t related to one another creates a sense of security via privacy. The teenager should feel secure and know that all of their discussions are only between the two of them. Once they spend any amount of time together, the teenager may reveal his or her problems and find a solution they would have never discovered alone.
Medication is usually a shy subject with parents and teens, but at times, it can be the best cure for a depressed child or young-adult. The doses will vary and the purposes are many, but a trained professional will be able to spot the symptoms and know the best course of action for any situation. The teenager may seem different once they begin the prescription, but in time, things can settle or it may give a length of clarity in which the actual problem is discovered.
How is Teenage Depression Different from Adult Depression?
Depression in an adult and teenage depression is equally devastating. However, when someone is in that age-bracket, it feels harder to find someone they can relate to that will offer the needed advice. Other teenagers are reluctant to help, while at the same time, they don’t wish to ask for help from someone older that they can’t find common ground with. The task is a tough one, but with these tips and the advice from others, there is a possibility that you can break through and help the troubled teen see the lighter side of life.