Depression in adolescents 13-17 years old

Adolescence is a complex stage of life, which is accompanied by a variety of physical, psychological and social changes. It is during this period that hormonal changes in the body occur, and as a result of natural physiological processes, some mental changes occur. Some girls and boys experience adolescence without much stress or turmoil, but there are also those who develop mental disorders under the influence of unfavorable internal and external factors. Symptoms of depression can vary widely between children and adolescents. The main task of parents is to detect the problem in time and take all measures to correct it. Untreated teenage depression is highly treatable. In the future, the child can live a happy, fulfilling life.

Depression in a child (adolescent)

Depression in adolescents is characterized by depressed, melancholic mood, pessimism, behavioral disturbances, sleep problems, and in severe cases, suicidal tendencies.

Children aged 10 to 18 years old experience various emotional upheavals that arise against the background of conflicts with parents, classmates, teachers, dissatisfaction with their own appearance, low self-esteem, etc. The situation is aggravated by hormonal changes that affect the character of a teenager, making him uncontrollable, aggressive, excessively emotional.

Often, symptoms of depression in adolescents manifest themselves in changes in behavior and mood. The child simply loses motivation in life, becomes withdrawn, passive, and detached. Coming home from school, such children lock themselves in their room and can sit alone for hours. They refuse to communicate with parents, friends, classmates, and become conflicted. Some develop eating disorders, alcohol and drug addiction.

Depression is a mental illness that requires timely and proper treatment. In adolescents with unadvanced depression, the condition very often normalizes on its own, thanks to the support of parents, friends, and relatives. But if the symptoms do not go away for a long time and even intensify, it is necessary to seek medical help as soon as possible.

Treatment options

Teenage depression often goes unnoticed by adults. Parents often interpret symptoms of apathy and sadness as signs of laziness, so the child is left without support.

Signs of a mental disorder cannot be ignored. First you need to show support and offer help. If your teen is not in the mood to talk, give him time. Explain that you love him, no matter what, and want to help him understand the current situation. It should be remembered that the teenager must want to visit the doctor on his own. Pressure, blackmail and threats are unacceptable.

Treatment of teenage depression includes several stages:

Pharmacotherapy – prescribing medications: sedatives, antidepressants, sedatives.
Psychotherapy helps to understand the root causes of the disease.
Social therapy – helps improve social communication skills and reduce problems in interpersonal relationships.

Parents are recommended to come to an appointment with a psychologist/psychotherapist together with their child.

Hospitalization is required for prolonged, severe depression. Most often, therapy is carried out on an outpatient basis.

Causes of depression in teenagers

Depressive disorder in adolescents often occurs as a mental reaction to a stressful situation that he could not adequately accept and survive. The most common factors that contribute to the development of depression are:

Hormonal changes. Most teenagers experience hormonal changes relatively calmly, without serious shocks. However, there are those in whom the maturation of the reproductive system is too violent and emotional. After 2–4 years, hormonal levels stabilize, but during this period emotional swings can cause the development of a serious mental disorder.
Family conflicts. Children experience conflict situations with their parents very hard. Divorce is difficult for them, constant quarrels between adults, aggression, and alcoholism. It is also not easy for a child to hear criticism of himself or parents’ dissatisfaction associated with poor performance at school.
Lack of girlfriends, friends. In adolescence, children try to find emotional contact with peers with whom they can share their experiences, thoughts, and disturbing events. But if a child has no friends and has not developed a trusting relationship with his parents, he simply has no one to vent to, especially since it is not always convenient to discuss certain topics with adults.
Flaws in appearance. Teenagers spend a lot of time on their appearance, sometimes looking for flaws where there are none. Non-compliance with beauty standards imposed by the Internet and social networks greatly affects self-esteem. As a result, the child withdraws into himself, tries to look inconspicuous, and begins to experiment with diets, which can ultimately lead to mental disorders.
Bullying. During adolescence, some children become uncontrollable, show unmotivated cruelty towards others, and begin to spread rot towards those who cannot stand up for themselves. If a child has been bullied at school, it can leave a deep imprint on his psyche.
Increased loads. Some children do not master the school curriculum as well and quickly as their parents would like. Bad grades in the diary, problems with homework and constant dissatisfaction with parents are serious stress that not everyone can handle.
Unrequited love or first unsuccessful sexual experience. Experiences of this nature take a lot of strength and energy from a teenager, but there is often nowhere to share their emotions and receive support in such situations.
Frequent moves due to a forced change of educational institution. The child is greatly unsettled by frequent moves and team changes. He simply does not have time to adapt to new conditions, as a result of which he cannot establish relationships with classmates and teachers.
Social status. Each teenager has his own position in the class and team. And if the status turns out to be not high enough, or even low, this has an extremely negative impact on personal self-esteem. Such children often become loners, which means that they have no one to share their experiences with, because adults are not always comfortable talking about their problems.

Encourage exercise

Physical and mental health are inextricably linked. Depression is made worse by inactivity, insufficient sleep and poor diet. Unfortunately, teenagers are known for their unhealthy habits: staying up late, eating junk food, and spending hours on their phones and other electronic devices. As a parent, you can combat this behavior by creating a healthy, supportive home environment.

During depression, the body seems to freeze and does not want to expend additional energy on physical movements. When a person begins to move actively, it is as if he is sending his brain a signal that everything is returning to normal.

The problem is that most teenagers don’t even like the word “sport.” So think outside the box: take him on a hike, let him walk the dog, ride a bike or skateboard - almost anything that involves physical activity will do.

Set limits on phone and computer use. Teens often go online to escape their problems, but as screen time increases, physical activity and the desire to go out with friends decrease. Both of these things are a recipe for worsening symptoms.

Provide your child with nutritious and balanced meals. Make sure your teen gets the nutrition they need for optimal brain health and mood support: healthy fats, quality protein, and fresh produce. Eating a lot of sugary, starchy foods is a quick way to make things worse.

It is also believed that teenagers need a lot of sleep - about 9-10 hours. Make sure your teen gets this rest.

Make an appointment with a doctor

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Symptoms of Depression in Teens

Signs of depression in adolescents can be divided into 3 large groups:

changes in mood;
behavior change;
physiological changes.

Based on this, the following symptoms of depressive disorder can be identified:

Apathy. The child becomes absolutely indifferent to everything. He is not happy with his previous interests and hobbies; sometimes it becomes difficult to even get out of bed. Motivation and interest in learning disappear, and academic performance decreases.
Psychosomatic pain. There are absolutely any localization: head, abdominal, muscle, joint.
General depression, melancholy, which does not go away for a long time.
Forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, decreased performance.
Unmotivated anxiety, worries.
Sleep problems. At night it is difficult for a child to fall asleep, and during the day he is overcome by drowsiness.
Changes in appearance. The teenager stops caring about what he looks like. A child may walk around in dirty clothes for a long time, not comb his hair, and ignore basic hygiene procedures.
Eating disorder. It manifests itself as a complete loss of appetite, anorexia, bulimia, or, on the contrary, problem eating, insatiable appetite.
Interest in alcohol, cigarettes, drugs. If a child has older friends, they can buy alcohol, cigarettes, illegal substances and treat them to the teenager, who, in turn, will not refuse the offer in order to gain a certain status in the team.
Irritability, causticity in communication. The child behaves aggressively with parents and teachers, refuses to listen, talk, withdraws into himself, and does bad things.
Emotional swings.
Talking about death, suicide. If a child becomes interested in the topic of death, suicide, and begins to constantly use the phrases “I don’t see the point in life,” “we’ll all die anyway,” “I can’t do this anymore,” parents should be wary and pay attention to this.

Treatment of teenage depression at the center for teenagers “Build your own world”

provides assistance to teenagers who are faced with depression and other types of this disorder. We use safe, certified medications and treatment methods with proven effectiveness, including:

Minnesota model;
Daytop;
art therapy;
fairytale therapy;
yoga;
fitness;
socio-psychological trainings.

Experienced teachers, doctors and consultants work with children, teenagers and their parents. This approach allows you to build a new value system, understand the root causes of the problem, and improve family relationships. We will help your child get through a difficult period of life.

Types of depression in teenagers

There are the following types of depression in adolescents:

Reactive. Refers to a benign type of disorder, which often develops against the background of severe emotional shock.
Melancholic. Characterized by a state of melancholy, depression, loss of motivation and interest in life. Against the background of these symptoms, problems with sleep and appetite arise.
Bipolar disorder. Characterized by a change of active and passive phases. Mania manifests itself in the form of aggression, anger, and sudden mood swings.
Dysthymia. This is a long-term mental disorder that can haunt a child for years. The teenager looks passive, lonely, and finds it difficult to concentrate on completing a specific task.
Severe depression. It is characterized by a protracted course - from 6 to 9 months. The teenager is constantly depressed, irritated, and not interested in anything. The situation is sometimes aggravated by thoughts or attempts at suicide.

Know when to seek professional help

Lifestyle changes and support are the right steps, but sometimes they are not enough. If you feel the problem is serious, don't hesitate to seek professional help from a mental health professional.

When choosing a specialist, be sure to listen to your child’s opinion and let him make his own choice. It is this tactic that will not infringe on his pride, and there is a chance of finding a therapist with whom the child will be comfortable.

Unfortunately, many parents choose antidepressants because they are much cheaper than other treatments. Therefore, resort to them only in extreme and advanced cases. Therapists usually start with simple conversations and often find the cause of the problems.

Antidepressants were developed and tested in adults, so their effects on young, developing brains are not yet fully understood. Some researchers are concerned that exposure to drugs such as the famous Prozac may interfere with normal brain development, especially how the brain manages stress and regulates emotions.

Antidepressants also come with risks and side effects, including a number of safety concerns specific to children and young people. Therefore, if your child takes them, carefully monitor their psychological state - panic attacks, excessive anxiety and aggression may indicate that they are negatively affecting his body.

What should parents do if their child is depressed?

In order to prevent the development of complications of teenage depression, including bipolar disorder or suicide, at the first signs of pathology, it is necessary to make an appointment with a specialist as soon as possible, who, after a series of tests and diagnostic procedures, will prescribe an individual treatment regimen.

How can parents help their teens get through difficult times? Here are some tips from psychologists:

Try to always support your child in everything. A teenager should know that both parents will come to his aid and help him in any difficult situation. Make it clear that you are willing to provide the help and support needed.
Limit custody, let the child know that you trust him and take into account his opinion.
Listen and hear. It is important not only to listen to your son or daughter, but also to hear their problem. At the same time, do not criticize, condemn or impose your opinion. Try to talk in a comfortable environment, try to find out what exactly caused the anxiety and such results.
Help build self-esteem. Parents must show the teenager how important and significant he is, explain that everyone, even the most successful person, has dark and light streaks, but in any case the situation will improve and everything will be fine.
Properly organize your teenager’s leisure time. If a girl or boy is busy with an exciting activity, they will have no time left for bad thoughts. Ask your child if he wants to enroll in some kind of sports section, creative or scientific club. Respect your child’s decisions, allow him to choose his own hobby, even if it seems boring and uninteresting to you.
Show by your own example how to confront difficult situations in life.
Avoid high-pitched conversations, try to conflict less, look for as many points of contact as possible so that the child never feels abandoned and lonely.

Depression is a mental illness that requires timely and proper treatment. In adolescents with unadvanced depression, the condition very often normalizes on its own, thanks to the support of parents, friends, and relatives. But if the symptoms do not go away for a long time and even intensify, it is necessary to seek medical help as soon as possible.

Teenage depression

Depression is a long-term low mood. The disorder is characterized by a loss of the ability to experience pleasure. A severe form of the disease is manifested by a depressed state, inhibition of motor and mental processes.

If a teenager is sad for several days because of a quarrel with friends or a bad score on a test, then parents should not worry. A temporary decrease in mood is normal and does not radically affect the child’s psychological state. The family only needs to provide support to the student to get his life back on track.

You should be concerned if your teen's behavior has changed dramatically and does not stabilize within two to four weeks. If a student is apathetic, aggressive and whiny, parents should figure out the problem that has arisen or immediately seek help from a specialist.

The child may refuse to see a psychologist or psychotherapist. In this case, loved ones need to explain to the teenager that they wish him well. Persuasion may take several days. The main thing is to start conversations about consultation gently, in a confidential manner.

Take care of yourself

It is extremely important that you don't neglect your physical and mental health because it will determine whether you can cope emotionally with all the difficulties.

Don't accumulate your emotions. It's normal to feel overwhelmed, frustrated and helpless from time to time. Chat with friends and talk about how you feel.

Avoid just one emotional state - guilt. Self-flagellation will not lead to anything good and will also add an additional level of stress.

And to understand your child more, you can read some of the following books:

"Teenage Depression" by Douglas Riley.
“Our uncontrollable teenagers”, Alexey Bulgakov.
“Aggressive teenager”, Tatyana Avdulova.
“Psychology of adolescence”, Tatyana Avdulova.

We sincerely hope that you will need this article only for general development. But in any case, we wish you good luck!

We also recommend reading:

Storytelling
Post-traumatic stress disorder: briefly about the most important things
Positive therapy for children
A Guide to Relieving Depression and Apathy
Development of communication skills in children
How to Prevent Stress and Depression from Tony Robbins
Munchausen syndrome
Overcoming spiritual depression
Poor memory: what to do?
Everything is bad! What to do?
How to protect your child from smoking

Key words:1Psychoregulation

What should you pay attention to?

The first and most important thing is that depression can manifest itself differently in different children and it does not proceed the same way as in adults. Adults with depressive disorder are more likely to experience sadness, and children and adolescents act angry and irritable. It is also common for grades to drop sharply at school and changes in normal behavior to occur. Here are some alarm bells:

defiant, reckless behavior, sudden changes in behavior;
irritability and anger;
complaints of pain in the head or stomach;
insomnia or, conversely, too much sleep;
fatigue, lack of energy;
loss of appetite, loss or, conversely, gain of excess body weight;
anxiety;
decreased physical activity;
difficulties in decision making;
lack of concentration;
feelings of guilt or worthlessness;
thoughts of death or suicide;
detached behavior;
use of psychoactive substances, alcohol;
the child cries for no reason;
increased sensitivity to criticism;
feeling of hopelessness and helplessness.