Understandably, as a parent you want to protect your child from harm. This natural inclination to guard them from all the dangers of the world starts as soon as they are born, and it does not disappear as your child ages. It does, however, become difficult to shield your child as you take more of a backseat in their life. And no matter how hard you might try, there is no predicting or stopping a mental health issue.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 in 5 teenagers will experience depression at some point. Knowing the difference in whether your child is temporarily depressed over a hard life issue or whether it is a serious mood disorder, is an important distinguishment for parents to note. Because if depression goes untreated it can lead to reckless behavior, academic failure, eating disorders, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts and actions.
Sometimes parents get lucky and the signs of depression are clear; however, this is not always the case. Here are some common depression red flags, parents should know to be aware of:
- Abnormal Mood Swings (Beyond Normal Teenager Angst): Unusual irritability or sadness that accompanies crying should be concerning. They might also be more sensitive to criticism than previously in their life.
- Problems at School: Academic problems tend to be among the first signals that something is not right. If your child is getting more tardy slips than normal, or if their grades are slipping, these are signs to be warisome of. If they start skipping classes and school altogether, this should not be ignored.
- Sick More Often: Your child might complain more regularly of having headaches, stomach aches, or other body problems.
- Less Friend Time and More Solo Time: Pay attention if your teenager is spending less time with their friends or talking about their friends. This might accompany spending more time alone in their room or even hanging out with a new circle of friends.
- Dropping Once Loved Activities: If your child goes from loving to spend time playing a sport or spending time on another activity, and then suddenly could care less about it, this could be an important sign that depression or another mental health condition is at work.
- Lack of Motivation: This might just seem like one of the normal teenager symptoms, but if motivation to do something (such as ditching practice of an activity they once loved) is less than normal, it should be paid attention to. This should be especially concerning if they complain of being tired more often than normal.
- Constantly Late or Not Showing Up: This extends to more than school, but also other life activities. If they regularly try to avoid family events or try to get out of attending sports practice, there could be something else going on.
- Family History of Depression: If your family has a clear history of depression or other mental health conditions, this should be taken into consideration with your child's current behavior.
If you suspect that your child might be depressed, schedule an appointment with a mental health counselor today. Up to 70 percent of teens find improvement through talk therapy and individual counseling treatment. However, 80 percent of the total population of teenagers do not receive mental health counseling. Your child does not have to meet this statistic. Scheduling an appointment might just be the first breath of fresh air they have felt in a long time.
Resources:
GoodTherapy.org – Kids Get Depressed, Too: 8 Signs of Depression in Teens
U.S. National Library of Medicine – Recognizing Teen Depression
PsychCentral – A Few Signs Your Teenager May Be Depressed
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