10 Symptoms of Depression in Teens

You would do anything for your children. Walk over hot coals? Check. Drive an hour one way to a ball game? Check. Stay by their side through the flu? Check. However, the symptoms of depression in teens can be subtle. Depression is not something that you can take from your child and shoulder the burden, as much as you may want to. Instead, it will be helpful if you are aware of the symptoms of depression in teens so you can seek help at the appropriate time.

Depression in Families

Depression can run in families. If you struggle with depression, your child has a higher likelihood of developing depression. Parents and siblings with a history of depression can “pass on” the mental condition to another child.

Whether due to genetic or environmental factors, children or siblings of people with depression may develop stronger depressive episodes than their peers. Depression goes beyond simply feeling sad after a disappointment. Feeling and processing emotions like sadness, disappointment, and anger is normal. However, depression can last several weeks, months, or years.

Symptoms of Depression in Teens

Teenagers go through hormonal changes that can lead to moodiness, irritability, and social withdrawal. But when should you become concerned as a parent that your child’s behavior is more than just temperamental teenage behavior? Could it be symptoms of depression in teens instead?

The following is a list of the most common symptoms of depression in teens. If your child displays these signs for more than two weeks, they may develop depression. Reach out to a counselor. If your teen engages in self-harm or makes comments about suicide or death, seek help immediately.

Feelings of Sadness and Hopelessness

Persistent sadness is a hallmark symptom of depression. Feelings of hopelessness, dread, and emptiness can accompany this sadness. These sensations cause many people to look for ways to hide the pain or feel something; anything.

They may not be able to pinpoint why they feel sad. In some cases, their sadness may be attributed to a loss or a traumatic event, but they cannot pull themselves out of the pit of despair. For others, there is no trigger, only a dark cloud of sadness that envelops them.

Since sadness is the most common symptom, it is most recognized by teens and parents. If your child expresses that they feel sad, hopeless, numb, or empty or are having trouble envisioning their future, contact a counselor for help.

Fatigue or Tiredness

Your teen may complain of feeling “blah.” Fatigue and tiredness are signs of depression. They may lie in bed listening to music or watching television rather than going out with friends or joining the family for dinner.

Fatigue is less about being sleepy and more about bone weariness. It feels like it takes too much effort to move, and going about their daily schedule feels exhausting.

Insomnia or Trouble Sleeping

Trouble sleeping is another symptom of depression, although it can take different forms in teens. Your child may have trouble falling asleep or may wake up several times each night. They may not be able to go back to sleep right away. Insomnia can make it challenging for your teen to rest and function at school the next day, which can cause academic issues.

Some teens sleep too much when depressed. Combined with the fatigue, they may stay in bed for most of the day, only getting up for school. Reducing caffeine and sugar, especially in the evenings, may help.

Changes in Appetite

Although more research is needed, depression can affect appetite. Mood disorders can affect the hormones leptin and ghrelin, responsible for hunger and satiety. When these hormones are not in sync, a person can feel hungry when their body is not ready for food or feel full hours after their last meal.

Loss of appetite and overeating are common symptoms of depression. For some people, eating is a coping mechanism. It is a learned behavior. For example, if your teen eats ice cream to feel better during a depressive episode, the sugar will create a release of dopamine, rewarding them for the behavior. The next time they feel bad, they may reach for ice cream again, ingraining the habit.

Rapid Weight Changes

Due to the combination of hormonal changes, learned behaviors, and appetite changes, rapid weight changes can occur with depression. Teens can gain far more weight than is healthy for their bodily frame.

Eating disorders can also develop during the teen years. If you suspect your teen may have developed an eating disorder, it’s important to seek help.

Trouble Concentrating

It is not your imagination if your teen seems to be in a fog, forgetting to do chores, or having trouble recalling details. Depression affects cognitive functioning and the ability to problem-solve. Your teen may have a lessened ability to concentrate on his schoolwork during depressive episodes.

Ask a counselor for ways to increase focus and concentration. Going for a walk outside can boost mood, relieve anxiety and depression, and increase concentration. The extra movement can also spark the ability to solve problems.

Academic Issues

A child struggling with high-quality sleep, trouble concentrating, and feeling sluggish will have difficulty maintaining good grades and behavior. Academic issues such as missing assignments, not participating in class, disrespect toward teachers, and behavioral problems with peers can arise.

Behavioral problems can extend outside the school and into the home and other environments. Isolation and social withdrawal can make your teen feel like an outsider. Your teen may not know how to process resentment and anger and instead lash out verbally and physically at others.

Engaging in Risky Behaviors

Teenagers with depression may engage in risky behaviors. Behaviors such as stealing, driving recklessly, having unprotected sex, and abusing drugs and alcohol are examples.

There are a few reasons why teens with depression turn to risky behaviors. First, they may not be equipped to communicate how they feel, or they are afraid of rejection. Second, they may feel numb inside and yearn to escape; risky behaviors provide that thrill.

The prefrontal cortex, the portion of the brain in charge of impulsive behaviors, takes longer to develop. This lack of control and reasoning, combined with depression, leads to decisions and actions your teen may regret later.

Physical Ailments

Unexplained physical ailments can plague a teen with depression. Your child may complain of stomachaches, headaches, and muscle tension. They may develop digestive issues. Often, doctors cannot find a physical reason for the complaints, and medication seldom works.

Always check with your primary care physician if your child is complaining of physical ailments or pain to rule out a serious medical condition before seeking help from a counselor. Your doctor and counselor can work together to help your teen through their depression.

Thoughts of Self-Harm or Suicide

Self-harm can be classified as risky behavior. Teens who self-harm by cutting themselves or engaging in other acts are crying out for help but are unsure of how to ask. They feel misery and pain and seek to escape. Hurting themselves provides temporary relief. Unfortunately, their method can leave scars, producing shame and embarrassment.

Suicidal thoughts and talk of death are red flags indicating something is wrong. Seek help from a mental health care professional immediately. In some cases, the counselor may recommend aggressive treatment with psychotherapy and medications from the primary care physician. In severe cases, teens may stay at a facility while they receive treatment.

Treatment for Depression

There are several effective treatments for the symptoms of depression in teens, including talk therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and group therapy. Contact our office today to schedule an assessment appointment with a Christian counselor. Your counselor will help create a care plan combining effective psychological methods with faith-based principles to help your child overcome depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.