Teen Depression

October 11, 2020

2 min read

Depression can be both serious and debilitating, especially among teens who are facing peer pressure as well as pressure from school, work, coaches, and parents. Here's everything you need to know if you're experiencing feelings of sadness and hopelessness in your teen years.

Risk Factors for Teen Depression

Teens who are experiencing low self-esteem related to bullying, acne, learning disabilities, ADHD, obesity, or problems with friendships are at higher risk of developing depression than those who aren't. Teens who have been the victim of verbal, physical, or sexual violence are also at risk. Finally, teens with other mental health conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, an eating disorder, bipolar disorder, or personality disorder are more likely to suffer from depression in their teen years.

Symptoms of Teen Depression

Teens who are suffering from depression may feel some or all of the symptoms below:

chronic fatigue; spending a lot of time in bed or on the couch
feeling sad, empty, or hopeless most of the time
spending more time alone than with others; withdrawing from activities they used to enjoy
suffering from mood swings, feeling crabby or irritable often and unpredictably
feeling a great deal of guilt about things that are or aren't in their control
experiencing physical symptoms like headaches, body aches, pains, constipation, and diarrhea
eating more or less than usual
harming themselves or thinking about suicide

Even if you (or your child if you're reading this as a parent) only relate to half of the items above, seeking diagnosis and treatment early is imperative for a positive outcome.

Getting Help for Teen Depression

Teens who feel hopeless and are considering suicide should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Teens who are experiencing the signs and symptoms of depression but who are not suicidal should seek help from their primary care provider. Your primary care provider will first work to determine whether you have depression alone, depression in conjunction with co-existing condition like generalized anxiety disorder, or another condition altogether that can produce similar symptoms like bipolar disorder, cyclothymic disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or another common condition.

If he or she determines that you do, indeed, have depression, it will be important to understand what type: depression with anxious distress, with melancholic features, or with atypical features. Lab tests, a physical exam, and a psychological exam will likely be performed.

Common Treatments

Depression is rarely resolved with a single treatment; rather, a combination of approaches is usually taken to assist with the immediate crisis, teach coping skills, and provide long-term relief. Treatments include counseling, medication, psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, and sometimes hospitalization or inpatient treatment programs.

Teens can take steps at help to home, including sticking to the treatment plan, keeping a journal, developing healthy friendships, staying as active as possible, journaling, asking for help when they need it, and developing relationships with other teens who also struggle with depression. A support group can promote long-term success.

Teens who have depression can live a normal, fulfilling life with the right intervention.