Does your teenager display mood swings or complain of a dark cloud that never leaves? This could be teenage depression. It’s serious and effects every facet of their life. It is so serious that depression can root itself in unwanted behaviors like drug and alcohol abuse, self loathing, self mutilation, pregnancy, violence and at it’s worse suicide. If you are a parent , a teacher or just a friend you can help. Having an honest conversation can bring about a much needed solution.
The teen years can be a very confusing time in a child’s life. When the teen years bring challenges kids learn to balance with the support of healthy relationships, success in school, extra curricular activities and standing firm with a strong personality. We as parents expect our teens to display mood swings and make bad decisions. This is part of life right? However if these behaviors are a manifestation of depression these behaviors mean a completely different thing. Depression reaches into a child’s personality and causes unhappiness, helplessness, maybe anger. These feelings are more common than we think and should not be dismissed as a stage of life . It is a fact that only one in five teenagers receive the help the need to overcome this condition. This is where intervention is needed by a parent, a teacher or a friend.
Teenagers face a ton of pressures, from the changes of their bodies to questions about who they are and where they fit in. The natural transition from child to adult can also bring parental conflict as kids start to assert their independence during this time. With all of this in mind, it isn’t always easy to know the difference between depression and normal teenage moodiness. To make things even more complicated, teens that suffer from depression do not necessarily appear sad or bothered, nor do they always withdraw from others. For some depressed teens, symptoms of irritability, aggression, and rage are more prominent.
Teens deal with wacky hormones this too can affect their mood. This can also be depression. Seek a doctor’s help. Your doctor may recommend help from a specialist. A doctor can recommend a psychologist and a psychiatrist. If a psychiatrist recommends an anti-depressant , ask questions. If your child is under 18 it is important to understand what effects medicine can have on the brain while it is still developing. Young teens are at high risk when taking medications.
Ways to beat the blues and I mean major blues are simple…diet, nutrition, exercise and nutrients. Exercise will help boost your endorphins and it will also help your confidence more than anything else. Vitamins such as B-vitamins are a very potent treatment for depression. Taking omega-3 fatty acids as found in fish oil have been shown to be potent antidepressants as well as Zinc and magnesium, two minerals found to have antidepressant effects. With research one could receive the same results from a holistic approach as one would receive with prescribed medication.
Conversation and early detection will stop your teenager from developing teenage depression. Know the signs.
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