Sad Teenager or Depressed Teenager?

By Sue Stein


Many teenagers experience mood swings or talk of a dark cloud that never seems to go away. This could be signs of teenage depression, a serious condition that interrupts the normal life of a teenager. If left alone it can lead to drug and alcohol abuse, self loathing, self mutilation, pregnancy, violence or suicide. You can help as a parent , a teacher or a friend. An open discussion can lead to a quick solution.

The teen years can be a very confusing time in a child's life. When the teen years bring challenges kids learn to balance with the support of healthy relationships, success in school, extra curricular activities and standing firm with a strong personality. We as parents expect our teens to display mood swings and make bad decisions. This is part of life right? However if these behaviors are a manifestation of depression these behaviors mean a completely different thing. Depression reaches into a child's personality and causes unhappiness, helplessness, maybe anger. These feelings are more common than we think and should not be dismissed as a stage of life . It is a fact that only one in five teenagers receive the help the need to overcome this condition. This is where intervention is needed by a parent, a teacher or a friend.

Many questions intrude upon the teenagers daily thought life. Why is my body changing? Who am I? Where do I fit in? Then there is the fight for independence which causes the parent child battles. It is no mystery why having a teenager in the house can be so confusing and difficult. Living with them can be extremely challenging if it is not clear whether they are suffering from normal teenage swings or bouts of depression.To thicken the plot, teens suffering from depression do not always appear sad or withdrawn. What can really raise your eyebrows is when you see signs if irritability, aggression and rage, this is can be the signs of depression.

Hormones can do crazy things to your attitude and mood during your teenage years. That does not mean that your teen might not also be depressed. If your doctor recommends seeing a psychiatrist, they will give your teen an anti-depressant. However, make sure to ask if it is approved for teens under 18. As doctors are hesitant to put young teens on medication while the brain is still developing. There can be high risk that it will not develop correctly or possibly slow its development.

There are alternative methods to treating depression in teens. Diet good nutrition and exercise produces a boost to the brain with endorphins. Certain vitamins such as vitamin B are a natural treatment for depression. Other vitamins act as anti-depressants vitamins such as Zinc and omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil. If prescribed medicine is not preferred these vitamins can certainly act as alternative solutions to depression

Conversation and early detection will stop your teenager from developing teenage depression. Know the signs.




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