When Your Teen Has Been Diagnosed with Depression
When Your Teen Has Been Diagnosed with Depression
Moodiness is normal in teenagers. A condition called depression is more than just moodiness. It’s a serious but treatable illness that affects your child’s mood and behavior. Your teen has been showing signs of depression. Below is more information on this often misunderstood condition.
What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder. This means that the condition affects your child’s mood and behavior. No one is exactly sure what causes depression. It is associated with changes in levels of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals affect the ability to feel and experience pleasure. Depression may run in families, and a teen may be more likely to become depressed if someone else in the family has had depression.
What are the symptoms of depression?
Depression is diagnosed by its signs and symptoms. A teen may not have every symptom. But it's important to talk to a healthcare provider about any symptoms that are severe or that get in the way of daily life. In teens, common signs and symptoms of depression are:
Loss of interest in family, friends, or activities that were once enjoyed
Talking about feeling hopeless or worthless
Increase in reckless or risk-taking behavior
Talk of suicide or death
Drop in grades
Being fearful, anxious, restless, or irritable
Excessive crying
Big changes in appetite or weight
Eating or sleeping more or less than usual
Having trouble remembering, concentrating, or making decisions
Aggressive or hostile behavior
Drug or alcohol use
Causing self-injury (cutting, burning, or bruising oneself on purpose)
What’s the next step?
You’ve taken your child to a healthcare provider and gotten a diagnosis of depression. What now? Left untreated, depression can cause many problems. It can lead to drug and alcohol abuse and risk-taking behavior. It can make the development of other mental health problems more likely. And it is a risk factor for suicide. But treatment can help. Your child’s healthcare provider may refer your teen to a mental-health professional for evaluation and treatment.
How is depression treated?
The two most common treatments for depression are medicines and talk therapy. Both methods can take a few weeks to start working. But both can be very effective and are often used together.
Medicines for depression are called antidepressants. They affect the balance of certain chemicals in the brain, helping restore them to normal levels. Medicine can be very helpful. But finding the best one for your teen may take time. If medicines are prescribed, follow instructions carefully. Let your healthcare provider know how your child is doing and whether you see any changes. Never let your teen stop a medicine on his or her own without talking to the doctor first. Also, never give your child herbal medicines along with antidepressants. In teens and young adults, antidepressants can sometimes cause increased thinking about suicide. If this happens, talk to your teen’s doctor right away.
Talk therapy for depression involves talking to a counselor or other trained professional. Different counselors use different methods for talk therapy. But all therapies aim to help change thoughts and feelings about problems. Therapy is often done one-on-one. But it can also be done in a group with other teens or with other members of the family.
Other things that can help
Recovery from any illness takes time. Getting better from depression is no different. While your teen is recovering, here are things that can help him or her feel better:
Let your teen know that depression is a serious illness that is not his or her fault.
Be understanding of your teen. Your teen's behavior may be trying at times, but he or she is just trying to cope. Your support can make a huge difference.
Encourage your teen to spend time with friends and loved ones.
Encourage your teen to exercise regularly. Exercise has been shown to help relieve symptoms of depression.
When to call your healthcare provider
Call the healthcare provider if your teen:
Has side effects from a medicine
Has depression that gets worse
Becomes very aggressive or angry
Shows signs or talks of hurting himself or herself (see below)
Suicide is a medical emergency
Depression can fill your child’s head with thoughts so negative that killing him- or herself can seem like the only option. If you are concerned that your child may be thinking about suicide, do not hesitate to ask your child about it. Asking about suicide does NOT lead to suicide. If your child talks about suicide, act right away! Call your child’s healthcare provider, 911, or 800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433), or 800-273-TALK (800-273-8 255) right away.
Resources
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 (800-273-TALK) www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
National Alliance on Mental Illness 800-950-6264 www.nami.org
National Institute of Mental Health 866-615-6464 www.nimh.nih.gov
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry www.aacap.org
Updated:
February 10, 2018
Reviewed By:
Ballas, Paul, DO,Images Reviewed by Staywell medical art team.,Nelson, Gail A., MS, APRN, BC