teenage depression

Depression and anxiety at any age is a serious mental health issue. Although depression can happen to anyone, it shows itself differently between adults and teenagers. Knowing the signs can help you identify depression and anxiety in a teenager so they can receive proper treatment.

In this article, we go over 20+ different symptoms of depression and anxiety in teenagers. Then, we look at how Elevations RTC can help your teenager who is suffering from depression and anxiety breathe easy again. Keep reading to learn more.

20+ Symptoms of Teen Depression and Anxiety

Depression in teenagers can show itself in a number of ways. Generally, these symptoms are divided into two categories: changes in emotion and changes in behavior. These categories give you a bit more structure for trying to identify depression in a teenager.

Changes in Emotions

When teenagers experience depression, they are likely to experience a number of emotional changes. Here are some examples of emotional changes teenagers experience due to depression and anxiety:

  • Anger over small matters
  • Feeling empty
  • Feeling hopeless
  • Feeling hopeless
  • Feelings of sadness
  • Feelings of worthlessness
  • Focus on failures and past mistakes
  • Frequent thoughts of death and suicide
  • Frustration
  • Guilt
  • Irritability
  • Little interest in usual activities
  • Little or loss of interest in family
  • Low self-esteem
  • Self-criticism
  • Social anxiety
  • Trouble thinking and concentrating
  • Unexplained fears and anxiety

Changes in Behavior

Much more obvious side effects of depression are changes in behavior. Changes in behavior can be seen from the outside. Often, behavioral changes are a result of emotional changes, though not always. Here are examples of common behavior changes in teenagers with depression and anxiety:

  • Agitation and restlessness
  • Appetite changes
  • Drug or alcohol use
  • Frequent unexplained headaches and body pains
  • Insomnia
  • Poor personal hygiene or appearance
  • School refusal
  • Self-harm and/or suicidal attempts
  • Social isolation
  • Sleeping too much
  • Slow movements or speech
  • Tiredness

Causes of Teen Depression and Anxiety

Unfortunately, medical professionals do not know the exact cause of depression, but they know a variety of factors that may impact it.

  • Brain chemistry
  • Early childhood trauma
  • Genetics
  • Hormonal changes
  • Learned negative thinking and bad habits

Other scenarios can also increase the chances of a teenager experiencing depression and anxiety. For example:

  • Having a family member with depression and anxiety
  • Having a learning disability
  • Having an ongoing illness
  • Low self-esteem
  • Self-critical patterns
  • Victim or witness of violence

Prevention Tips

Although depression and anxiety cannot always be prevented, there are things that can be done to minimize their chances.

If you are a parent, try not to add too much pressure and stress on your teenager. Often, teenagers feel depressed or anxious whenever too much is on their plate. Also, try to keep an open line of communication so that your teenager feels like they can speak with you before their feelings overwhelm them.

If you are a teenager who worries about your own depression, you can contact friends and family members. Although depression may make you want to withdraw, doing so will only make the matter worse. When you socialize, make sure you surround yourself with like-minded individuals who lift you up, not tear you down.

What You Can Do About Teen Depression and Anxiety

Once a teenager experiences depression and anxiety, it’s important that they seek medical attention before it escalates.

If caught early on, the depression and anxiety can be treated by a local physician, therapist, or counselor. These medical persons will be able to teach coping mechanisms and hopefully quell the monster that is teen depression.

For cases that are left untreated for a time, you might need to take a more targeted approach. Certain programs are designed entirely around teenagers suffering from depression and anxiety. As a result, they are more suited to handle serious cases. For example, Elevations RTC provides comprehensive medical treatment for teenagers with depression and anxiety.

More About Elevations RTC

Elevations RTC is a residential treatment center that supports, guides, and offers relief for teenagers aged 13 through 18 who suffer from depression, anxiety, learning disorders, and other issues.

By offering a real-world residential environment with intensive psychiatric care, Elevations RTC is able to help teenagers get back on their feet. At the same time, the Elevations RTC’s structure mimics real life, which allows them to learn coping mechanisms that they will apply outside of the facility for long-term care.

Final Thoughts

Even though teen depression and anxiety is a scary outlook, there is hope and quite a bit of it. If you are able to identify the signs of teen depression early on and act accordingly, your teen can get back on the right track and feel like themselves once again.

Especially with the help of a comprehensive program like Elevations RTC, teenagers suffering from depression and anxiety can get back on their feet and begin enjoying the life they once did. Contact Elevations RTC for more information about their program.

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