7 Signs of Teenage Depression

Hey Optimist Minds!

According to the WHO, globally, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. Another scary statistic is that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15-19-year-olds.

Adolescence is a transition period in our lives involving changes in our bodies, minds, and identities. These changes make teenagers particularly vulnerable to conditions like depression as they’re still learning to process their thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Unfortunately, the lack of awareness and stigma against mental health issues causes many teen depression cases to go unrecognised. 

The consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.

This video will highlight seven signs of teenage depression to increase the chances of early detection. We request our viewers not to take these signs lightly. If you spot them, consult a licensed therapist at the soonest for a proper diagnosis. 

Now, let’s begin.

One

Increased irritability.

It’s typical for teenagers to resist authority and sometimes, it comes out as snarkiness. But you’ll notice an increase in frequency if your teenage child is depressed.

They’ll pick fights when it can be avoided and will seem more sensitive than usual. Additionally, they might take casual comments you make too personally and argue with you.

Two

Low self-esteem.

Many teenagers experience wavering levels of self esteem during these years. The bodily changes and interactions with peers influence their self image. However, with depression, teenagers show a greater need for validation and are super sensitive to feedback.

In today’s world, this can also manifest as an affinity for memes about deteriorating mental health or low self-worth. Many teenagers cope by using self depricating humour to express themselves.

Three

Frequent crying.

Regular emotional outbursts are commonly seen in teenage depression. If crying is considered acceptable in a household, teens feel more comfortable expressing their sadness. 

But if they’re not given the space to feel their feelings, they prefer to stay locked in their rooms all day or at an emotionally safe location away from home.

Four

Sleeping in the day.

One of the major symptoms of depression is disturbed sleep. You might notice that your teenager has stopped going out much. Instead, they sleep excessively during the day.

You could also see the reverse, where they don’t sleep much at all. They could have trouble falling asleep, unpleasant dreams, or early awakenings.

Five

Weight changes.

Depression often brings drastic changes in appetite. Like sleep, these changes too can go both ways. Either you’ll see them skipping mealtime and eating less. Or you’ll notice plenty of binging on junk food. Consequently, depressed teenagers tend to gain or lose weight dramatically.

Six

Unexplained physical problems.

When depression stays unaddressed for a while, it starts manifesting in somatic complaints like aches, low immunity, and digestive issues. With teenagers, this could mean missing school or spending a lot of time at the nurse’s office.

It’s also possible that the teenager might grow preoccupied with these problems and insist on doctors’ appointments and medical advice. As young individuals, they’re likely to obsessively Google potential health conditions.

Seven

Dropping grades.

Doing well in school is especially important when you’re a teenager. Your performance in high school decides whether you go to a good college or not. Unfortunately, depression brings a temporary cognitive decline that affects your ability to learn, memorise, and concentrate.

As a result, teenagers who are depressed fall behind in their classes. They might even get lower grades in subjects they used to enjoy earlier.

Did any of these signs remind you of someone you know? Do you think thy might be dealing with teenage depression? Let us know your thoughts and stories in the comments. The Optimist Minds community could benefit from you sharing.

A link for further reading and the studies & references used in the making of this video are mentioned in the description below.

Thanks for visiting optimist minds, take care. Until next time.

References

• https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health 
• http://daveneefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/More-than-Moody-Adolescent-Depression.pdf 
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3799260/
• https://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:tnnmcjmhn&volume=4&issue=2&article=010
• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aritra-Ghosh-5/publication/316100409_PROBLEMS_OF_WOMEN_ENTREPRENEURSHIP_IN_INDIA/links/58f07554aca27289c20ff471/PROBLEMS-OF-WOMEN-ENTREPRENEURSHIP-IN-INDIA.pdf#page=79