Depression in teens can be very difficult to diagnose. Even in adults it may be hard, but they at least have finished with all of the emotional and physical complications of emergent puberty. With teenagers, it might take a while to distinguish a more normal gloom and the occasional bad mood from things like an anxiety disorder that relates to depression. It could be that they just don’t like what they see in the mirror, and need something as simple a few spa treatments or a shopping excursion; or it could be something more serious.
How, then, can you tell whether you need to resort to some thorough medical treatments versus just getting your teen a general checkup to make sure he or she is getting enough sleep? One thing to keep in mind is that if the young person is just having normal mood swings, they should be balanced by more positive things like a good circle of friends, a positive school experience and some ongoing interests. Depression in teens tends to manifest in isolation from friends and family, lack of motivation and interest in other things, and even lack of concentration. If these things last for more than three weeks, and certainly if there’s any talk of suicide or self-hurt, then you should definitely find a therapist and begin treatment.
Treatments can be varied, though having discussions with a therapist may be the best place to start. They’ll try to discover if you’re dealing with an anxiety disorder or if there’s a coming together of external influences that have created a perfect storm in your teen’s life, or a combination of the two. The best treatments may include a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants. If the depression is connected to disorders like anorexia or bulimia, then the teenager may benefit from some time in a mental health treatment center that would be better equipped to deal with all of the issues he or she is facing. They can also supervise the effects of antidepressants, which sometimes increase suicidal tendencies in teens rather than decreasing them.
If you can diagnose it early, then depression in teens is quite treatable. While it’s true that 50% of those who are treated will likely experience depression again as adults, current treatments usually ensure that the other 50% of depressed teens won’t experience any future episodes. And even those who will encounter this problem again will have benefited from receiving treatment and counseling as teenagers, because they’ll be much better equipped to manage depression successfully as adults.
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