How do you know if your teen is struggling with depression? How do parents handle teen depression?
Teen depression has doubled since 2020 according to studies. The pressure which society has placed on today’s teens to fit in is one that can cause a child to withdraw and have feelings of low self worth. With the rise of social media and the constant need to keep-up with likes and followers can be overwhelming to a young person.
Signs of teenage depression:
- Loss of appetite (changing eating habits)
- Suicidal thoughts, self harm
- Change of peer group
- Isolation, withdrawing from family and friends
- Loss of interest in favorite things
- School refusal, failing academically
- Anger outbursts, rage
- Mood swings (abnormal)
- Substance use (vaping)
- Internet addiction (especially social media)
When a teen, as well as an adult, feels confident within themselves, they don’t feel the need to prove themselves to others. They are happy and content with who they are and where they are going in life. However, we have found some teens lack this self esteem and confidence, which leads them to feel sad and rejected. This may lead to teen depression.
Most parents don’t recognize this immediately. The teen is trying to be someone they are not and within time you are dealing with a child who is masking their feelings and escalating out of control. Most times, a local adolescent therapist can help your family diagnose what is causing these feelings of despair.
In some cases, it may be clinical depression which can be treated with medications. However, many times, as with adults, teens feel they are not adequate and cannot keep up with their peers. This can cause their feelings of depression to manifest as negative behavior.
Residential placement can allow your child to open up and start to internalize on what and how they are feeling. If you suspect your teen is suffering with depression, opening the lines of communication is important if possible.
If your teen has become withdrawn, not participating in activities and spending a lot of time alone, it may be time to seek outside help.
Exhausting all of your local resources is the first step in finding the right therapist for your teen. Sometimes seeing a local professional on a weekly basis is simply not enough for them to get through their pain.
Their depression is very real and is something that should be addressed immediately. These kids are only human and today’s life is not easy for adolescents. Especially in schools today, there is the desire of some teens to be in the “cool” peer group. This “cool” peer group is not always the best selection of friends.
Read: Where to Send My Troubled Teenager.
Read: 5 Benefits of Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens.
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Contact us today for a free consultation – learn more about therapeutic boarding schools specializing in helping teen depression.
