subject: Signs Of A Depressed Teen And What To Do By West Ridge Academy [print this page] West Ridge Academy professionals tend to agree that today's teenagers, more than generations past, are exposed to higher levels of stress earlier in life. As youth grow into adults this maturation can development into depression if not managed with healthy tools. You might be asking yourself what you can do to help.In general teens struggle with their self image as the mature but those who struggle with depression need special attention.Assessing your teen is important so that the family can help combat stress and depression by identifying symptoms of depression. Spending time with you teen is probably of the best things you can do to not only bond with them but stay informed with their emotional health. Simple conversation can be the best tool to get a glimpse of their emotional state. The signs and symptoms of depression that you might see include:
Feelings of hopelessness
Feelings of helplessness
Feelings of emptiness
Feelings of guilt that won't go away
Decreased energy
Social withdrawal
Loss of interest in hobbies or any pleasure-giving activities
Poor sleeping (insomnia) or oversleeping (hypersomnia)
Alcohol or drug abuse
Suicidal thinking
Once you have assessed your teen regarding these signs and symptoms and you've noticed that they are actually present, seek immediate help from a medical doctor or a psychologist at once.More often than not, people who suffer from depression do not understand their condition, or deny being depressed. Thus for obvious reasons, they often don't see that they need or let alone want to get help from experts.
Those that the teen trusts the most can have a significant impact on them by supporting their realization that there is a problem with depression and encouraging the to get treatment. Explain to him that depression is a medical condition requiring medical treatment. It is not a weakness or a personal fault. If your teen is on medication they should be monitored to make sure the medication is working properly, don't just assume it will as they affect everyone a little different.
The staff at West Ridge Academy advises parents to spend more time with their depressed teen. Talking to them about the activities they loved to do before they got depressed can be a great way to help them get back on the road to recovery. If he liked playing basketball before, play it with him. Taking them to buy something fun of their choice can be a good way to relax and make them feel important. Often one of the things that can help the most and mean the most to your teen is if they feel like they have your time, if they do they will have a stronger sense of self worth and feel that they are not alone.West Ridge Academy experts suggest that it is very important for parents to understand and act on the signs of a depressed teen and seek trusted council as soon as possible so it doesn't get worse.
