Behavior & Emotions

Despite the fact that depression in teens is well-publicized and well-recognized, it goes undiagnosed more often than many people realize. In fact, some statistics estimate that approximately 80% of depressed teenagers go undiagnosed and therefore untreated. Depression in teens is a serious issue that goes well beyond occasional bad moods or feelings of sadness, and it can have a serious negative impact on nearly every area of your teen’s life. It is important, therefore, to understand this issue as best you can. Below you will find the most important basic facts about teen depression:

The symptoms are easy to spot.

One of the only positive aspects of depression is that its signs and symptoms are largely unmistakable. If you notice that your teen seems quieter than usual or more withdrawn, then it is probably a good idea to pay closer attention to their other habits. It is important not to read too far into normal bad moods and “off days,” but if these become the norm in your home, then your teen could have a problem. The following are some of the most common symptoms of teen depression:

• Extreme shifts in eating habits (overeating or undereating)
• Irritability
• Hostility
• Restlessness
• Lack of motivation or enthusiasm
• Changes in sleeping habits (insomnia or sleeping too often)
• Tearfulness or frequent crying
• Loss of interest in hobbies or friends
• Declining performance in school
• Apathy

These behaviors could be indicative of other teen problems, such as drug use, but, once you have ruled out other factors, it is usually safe to investigate the possibility of depression.

It could potentially ruin your teen’s life.

Depression, despite its frequent occurrence, is definitely nothing for parents to take lightly. Depression can have a negative impact on your son or daughter’s self esteem, social life, and performance in school, all of which can have far-reaching effects well beyond your child’s teenaged years. Additionally, depressed teens are also at risk of acting on their depression. In the worst of cases, the end result could be suicide, something which no parent should ever have to face.

It’s usually treatable.

Fortunately, depression is widely recognized, and this means that it is usually relatively easy to address in teens. Medications are always an option, and they are usually very effective, but for teens or parents who are wary of such measures, there are a number of alternatives. Therapy tends to help teens very much in that the therapist affords your son or daughter an opportunity to voice their concerns and express their feelings in a safe and understanding environment. Therapists can also advise your teen on how best to handle their depression issues and can recommend medications or treatments, as well as helping your teen to develop strategies to handle their depression independently. Beyond therapy and medication, for milder cases of depression, meditation, yoga, and aerobic exercise have all been scientifically proven to lessen depression’s strong grip and to reduce its negative side effects.

Anxiety in teens is something that is cause for concern among parents. Like stress, anxiety is a normal reaction to any situation that we personally find uncomfortable or nerve-racking, but, while a certain level of anxiety is normal, excessive anxiety, also known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, is abnormal and can have a negative impact on nearly every aspect of your teen’s life. Below you will find some of the most important basic facts about anxiety in teens:

Its effects can be terrible.

Depending on its severity, anxiety has the potential to effectively paralyze your teen. Teens who are constantly anxious often find it difficult to engage in normal activities because they perceive these activities to be too risky. Teens who suffer from anxiety disorders usually become very overwhelmed by what most of us consider to be regular, everyday activities, such as going out with friends, driving across town, or participating in class discussions or work meetings. Over time, this can have a tremendous impact on your teen’s social life, self esteem, performance in school, and their overall mental health.

It’s easy to spot.

Fortunately for parents, the signs of teen anxiety are quite obvious. Anxiety over something specific and common, such as a test or first date, is completely understandable and should generally not be cause for concern – unless, of course, that anxiety becomes excessive. If your teen makes excuses against leaving for school on the day of the test, for example, then they could suffer from excessive anxiety. Constant and unexplainable anxiety should absolutely not be ignored. If your teen often expresses worry or fear about routine activities, consistently freezes or seizes up in stressful situations, or suffers from panic attacks, then they could very well have an anxiety disorder.

Treatment is usually very effective.

One of the upsides about anxiety in teens is that it’s usually very easy to treat, and a full turnaround is often possible. A variety of medications are available, but you and your teen also have several alternative treatments to choose from. Sessions with a therapist are usually very effective, and these sessions can gradually help your teen learn how to deal with their anxiety issues independently. Alternatively, studies have shown that meditation and meditative movement, such as yoga and Tai Chi, serve to quiet the mind and calm worries. Aerobic exercise has also been proven to reduce stress and anxiety, so this is another viable alternative.

For parents of teens who suffer from anxiety, know that there is hope for your son or daughter. The effects of an anxiety disorder in teens can be awful and far-reaching, but the signs of such a disorder are easy to spot, so parents should have a relatively easy time determining whether or not their teen is suffering from excessive anxiety. If you do decide that your teen needs help, treatment for anxiety disorders – whether medication-based or more natural – is usually very effective.

If you are a parent of a teenager, then you understand very well just how difficult teens can be. Whether you choose to call it “talking back,” “sassing,” “’copping a ‘tude,” or some other variation, teens’ attitudes and moods can pose a challenge to even the most patient of parents. But while some degree of teenaged rebellion and disobedience is normal, it does have the potential to spiral out of control. In these situations – situations in which one family member’s behavior has a negative impact on the rest of the family – the teenager’s bad behavior should definitely be addressed. Below you will find a few examples of why teenagers can be so disobedient:

1. Their hormones affect their moods.

There’s no denying that hormones go crazy during the teen years. These hormones affect nearly every aspect of your teen’s personality, including their appetite, their energy level, and, most of all, their mood. Although unbalanced hormones cannot be made completely responsible for teenagers’ disobedience, their occasional negativity and moodiness can absolutely be blamed on hormones. Sudden and unpredictable mood shifts are to be expected with teenagers, but, when those mood shifts become violent, disruptive, extreme, or too frequent then your teenager could have a more serious emotional disorder like depression or bipolar disorder.

2. They’re evolving.

Unfortunately, disruptive behavior is often simply a product of growing up. Teenagers are making a tough transition into adulthood, and part of the process of growing up is to establish an identity separate from their parents’. In order to solidify their independence and “make a name” for themselves, so to speak, teenagers (ironically) often engage in very childish actions like being rebellious, deliberately disobeying instructions, being unreasonably argumentative, and other types of difficult behavior. This may seem counterproductive, and, in many ways it is, but childish reactions and strategies are often the only types of behaviors with which teenagers are familiar. Remember that, although teens may seem very adult-like in many ways and although they are trying to carve out a place for themselves in the adult world, they are still technically children, and they cannot always be held to adult standards of behavior.

3. There could be more to the story.

Although most teenage difficulty is normal, it is important that you not rule out serious underlying causes of bad behavior. Depression and bipolar disorder have already been mentioned, and anxiety and drug problems are also possibilities. These things can occur in otherwise normal and functional teenagers, so it is imperative that you heed the warning signs of these behaviors when you see them.

You know your teen better than anyone else, so it’s your job as a parent to make the call as to whether or not your teenager’s behavior is within the normal range of rebellion for their age. Use your judgment to determine if your teen’s actions are normal or if they could be a sign of something more serious.