Depression? TEENS? More help plllzz! ?

Question

What reasons would teens have to be depressed, stressed, worried, and want to see a counselor about??? plz help.

Answer 1

Depression in adolescence comes at a time of great personal change–when boys and girls are forming an identity distinct from their parents, grappling with gender issues and emerging sexuality, and making decisions for the first time in their lives. Depression in adolescence frequently co–occurs with other disorders such as anxiety, disruptive behavior, eating disorders or substance abuse

Answer 2

there are a lot of reasons.. but the most common is probably changes, culture shock, etc. a looooooot.

Answer 3

teens shouldn't have depression those are the best years of their life

Answer 4

Depression is a serious mood disorder that can take the joy from a child’s life. It is normal for a child to be moody or sad from time to time. You can expect these feelings after the death of a pet or a move to a new city. But if these feelings last for weeks or months, they may be a sign of depression.

Experts used to think that only adults could get depression. Now we know that even a young child can have depression that needs treatment to improve. As many as 3 in 100 young children and 9 in 100 teens have serious depression.1

Still, many children don't get the treatment they need. This is partly because it can be hard to tell the difference between depression and normal moodiness. Also, depression may not look the same in a child as in an adult.

If you are worried about your child, learn more about the symptoms in children. Talk to your child to see how he or she is feeling. If you think your child is depressed, talk to your doctor or a counselor. The sooner a child gets treatment, the sooner he or she will start to feel better.

What are the symptoms?

A child may be depressed if he or she:

Is grumpy, sad, or bored most of the time.

Does not take pleasure in things he or she used to enjoy.

A child who is depressed may also:

Lose or gain weight.

Sleep too much or too little.

Feel hopeless, worthless, or guilty.

Have trouble concentrating, thinking, or making decisions.

Think about death or suicide a lot.

The symptoms of depression are often overlooked at first. It can be hard to see that symptoms are all part of the same problem.

Also, the symptoms may be different depending on how old the child is.

Very young children may lack energy and become withdrawn. They may show little emotion, seem to feel hopeless, and have trouble sleeping.

Grade school children may have a lot of headaches or stomachaches. They may lose interest in friends and activities that they once liked. Some children with severe depression may see or hear things that aren't there (hallucinate) or have false beliefs (delusions).

Teens may sleep a lot or move or speak more slowly than usual. Teens with severe depression may hallucinate or have delusions.

Depression can range from mild to severe. A child who feels a little “down” most of the time for a year or more may have a mild, ongoing form of depression called dysthymia (say “dis-THY-mee-uh”). In its most severe form, depression can cause a child to lose hope and want to die.

Whether depression is mild or severe, there are treatments that can help.

What causes depression?

Just what causes depression is not well understood. But it is linked to an imbalance of brain chemicals that affect mood. Things that may cause these chemicals to get out of balance include:

Stressful events, such as changing schools, going through a divorce, or having a death in the family.

Some medicines, such as steroids or narcotics for pain relief.

Family history. In some children, depression seems to be inherited.

How is depression diagnosed?

To diagnose depression, a doctor may do a physical exam and ask questions about the child's past health. You may be asked to fill out a form about your child’s symptoms. The doctor may ask your child questions to learn more about how the child thinks, acts, and feels.

Some diseases can cause symptoms that look like depression. So the child may have tests to help rule out physical problems, such as a low thyroid level or anemia.

It is common for children with depression to have other problems too, such as anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or an eating disorder. The doctor may ask questions about these problems to help your child get the right diagnosis and treatment.

How is it treated?

Usually one of the first steps in treating depression is education for the child and his or her family. Teaching both the child and the family about depression can be a big help. It makes them less likely to blame themselves for the problem. Sometimes it can help other family members see that they are also depressed.

Counseling may help the child feel better. The type of counseling will depend on the age of the child. For young children, play therapy may be best. Older children and teens may benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of counseling can help them change negative thoughts that make them feel bad.

Medicine may be an option if the child is very depressed. Combining antidepressant medicine with counseling often works best. A child with severe depression may need to be treated in the hospital.

There are some things you can do at home to help your child start to feel better.

Urge your child to get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet, and get enough sleep.

See that your child takes any medicine as prescribed and goes to all follow-up appointments.

Make time to talk and listen to your child. Ask how he or she is feeling. Express your love and support.

Remi

Answer 5

a multitude of things could be responsible for depression in teens. this could be a parents' divorce, a friendship or relationship ending, bullying, bad grades at school, sibling jealousy, peer pressure, etc.