Why Do Teens Get Depression

Why Do Teenagers Eat More Than Adults

It is no secret that teenagers tend to eat more than adults. In fact, it is often joked about how teenage boys in particular seem to be always hungry! But why is this? Why do teenagers generally eat more than adults?There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, teenagers are growing at a rapid rate and so need more energy and nutrients to support this growth. Secondly, their metabolism is generally higher than adults, meaning they burn off food quicker and so need to refuel more often. And lastly, many teens simply enjoy eating its not uncommon for them to snack on unhealthy foods just because they taste good!Of course, there are some exceptions to the rule and not all teenagers will eat more than adults. However, on the whole, it is something that is fairly common during adolescence. So if you have a teenager in your house who seems to be always ravenous, dont worry its perfectly normal!

When Should I Call My Teens Healthcare Provider

• Feels extreme depression, fear, anxiety, or anger toward him or herself or others

• Feels out of control

• Hears voices that others dont hear

• Sees things that others dont see

• Cant sleep or eat for 3 days in a row

• Shows behavior that concerns friends, family, or teachers, and others express concern about this behavior and ask you to seek help

if your teen has suicidal thoughts, a suicide plan, and the means to carry out the plan.

How Does Depression Differ For Girls

Depression in girls can vary based on hormone influxes. While boys also experience hormone influxes, the hormones involved can be different. Teen girls are menstruating also creates hormone changes that teen boys wont experience. Girls are likelier to experience bouts of sadness and cry over the slightest things. They may not seem serious to you, but at the moment, they are crushing.

Like boys, girls are not supposed to show certain emotions. If they lash out in anger, they are being dramatic. If they cry, they are overly emotional. You see the pattern that develops! Who wants to express themselves to their closest persons when their emotions are invalidated?

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Depression Can Be Mistaken For Hormones And Bad Attitudes

Many of us grew up hearing about teen angst and hormonal fluctuations. While it is true that teens experience changes in their hormones, it doesnt mean that they arent depressed. If you dont know how to express how you feel inside, you will act out. It isnt a bad attitude either, another famous excuse for symptoms of depression. When dealing with a depressed teen, or any teen for that matter, we have to be patient and actively listen to what is going on within their mind. They have to know they can trust us enough to listen too.

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What Does Depression In Teens Look Like

Depression in teens can look the same as for the adults in their lives. They may isolate, become moody, and sleep patterns shift. Causes for depression in teens can include:

• Academic pressure
• Hormonal changes
• Learned negative thinking

While it doesnt seem like these would cause a difference between boys and girls, they can.

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How Is Depression In Teens Treated

Effective treatments for depression in teens include talk therapy, or a combination of talk therapy and medicines:

Talk therapy

Talk therapy, also called psychotherapy or counseling, can help you understand and manage your moods and feelings. It involves going to see a therapist, such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a social worker, or counselor. You can talk out your emotions to someone who understands and supports you. You can also learn how to stop thinking negatively and start to look at the positives in life. This will help you build confidence and feel better about yourself.

There are many different types of talk therapy. Certain types have been shown to help teens deal with depression, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy , which helps you to identify and change negative and unhelpful thoughts. It also helps you build coping skills and change behavioral patterns.
• Interpersonal therapy , which focuses on improving your relationships. It helps you understand and work through troubled relationships that may contribute to your depression. IPT may help you change behaviors that are causing problems. You also explore major issues that may add to your depression, such as grief or life changes.

Medicines

In some cases, your doctor will suggest medicines along with talk therapy. There are a few antidepressants that have been widely studied and proven to help teens. If you are taking medicine for depression, it is important to see your doctor regularly.

Caring For Your Child

Where to get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

If your child talks about suicide, self-harm, a mental health crisis, a substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, get help right away. You can:

• Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
• Call 1-800-273-TALK .
• Text HOME to 741741 to access the Crisis Text Line.

Consider saving these numbers in your phone.

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Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. Theyre preferred because they tend to have fewer side effects.

SSRIs work on the neurotransmitter serotonin. SSRIs prevent the body from absorbing serotonin so it can be more effectively used in the brain.

Current SSRIs approved by the Food and Drug Administration include:

Most SSRIs have only been approved for use in adults. However, fluoxetine has received FDA approval for youth with MDD who are 8 years old and up. Escitalopram has received FDA approval for youth with MDD who are at least 12 years old.

The most common side effects reported with SSRIs include:

• sexual problems

All youth who are taking antidepressants should be monitored for potential side effects. Talk to a doctor if the side effects are interfering with your teens quality of life.

How Is Teen Depression Diagnosed

There aren’t any specific medical tests that can detect depression. Health care professionals determine if a teen has depression by conducting interviews and psychological tests with the teen and their family members, teachers, and peers.

The severity of the teen depression and the risk of suicide are determined based on the assessment of these interviews. Treatment recommendations are also made based on the data collected from the interviews.

The doctor will also look for signs of potentially co-existing psychiatric disorders such as anxiety or substance abuse or screen for complex forms of depression such as bipolar disorder or psychosis. The doctor will also assess the teen for risks of suicide or homicide. Incidences of attempted suicide and self-mutilation is higher in females than males while completed suicide is higher in males. One of the most vulnerable groups for completed suicide is the 18-24 age group.

The United States Preventive Service Task Force now recommends screening for anxiety in children and adolescents ages 8 to 18 years and screening for major depressive disorder in adolescents ages 12 to 18 years.

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Brain And Neuroendocrine Mechanisms

Both inherited factors and psychosocial stressors can be thought of as distal risk factors, which determine the risk for depression by shaping more proximal biological mechanisms such as activity in underlying neural circuits and endocrine systems.88 The similarity of findings in adolescents and adults suggests that core biological features are shared.

Work in animals not only has shown that the immature, adolescent brain is more susceptible than the adult brain to the effects of these genetic and environmental influences,89,90 but has also identified specific brain regions where changes in circuitry occur.90 Moreover, these regions seem to be the same ones implicated in human brain imaging studies. Two interrelated neural circuits and associated modulatory systems have been closely linked to risk for depression, both in adults and in adolescents. These circuits are active in the response to danger and learning about rewards.91,92

Genetic factors, psychosocial stress, sex hormones, and development have also been linked to changing activity in this circuit,84,94 with evidence that this circuit matures after adolescence. High concentrations of sex steroid receptors have been identified within this circuit,23 and might provide a biological mechanism for why girls have higher risk of depression than boys.

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Types Of Teen Depression

The National Institute of Mental Health states that there are two common forms of depression found in teens: major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder .

• Major depressive disorder, also called major depression, is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Major depression is disabling and prevents a person from functioning normally. An episode of major depression may occur only once in a person’s lifetime, but more often, it recurs throughout a person’s life.
• Dysthymic disorder, also called dysthymia, is characterized by long-term but less severe symptoms that may not disable a person but can prevent one from functioning normally or feeling well. People with dysthymia may also experience one or more episodes of major depression during their lifetimes.

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How Can You Help Prevent Depression From Coming Back In A Child Or Teen

You can do a lot to keep your child’s depression from coming back. Know your child’s risk of depression returning. Encourage healthy choices, like regular exercise. Know the warning signs that depression is coming back. Be sure your child stays with the treatment. Stopping treatment too soon is a common cause of depression returning.

What Can Parents Do To Alleviate Teen Depression

Parenting teens can be very challenging. There are, though, some effective parenting and communication techniques you can use to help lower the stress level for your teenager:

• When disciplining your teen, replace shame and punishment with positive reinforcement for good behavior. Shame and punishment can make an adolescent feel worthless and inadequate.
• Allow your teenager to make mistakes. Overprotecting or making decisions for teens can be perceived as a lack of faith in their abilities. This can make them feel less confident.
• Give your teen breathing room. Don’t expect teens to do exactly as you say all of the time.
• Do not force your teen down a path you wanted to follow. Avoid trying to relive your youth through your teen’s activities and experiences.
• If you suspect that your teen is depressed, take the time to listen to their concerns. Even if you don’t think the problem is of real concern, remember that it may feel very real to someone who is growing up.
• Keep the lines of communication open, even if your teen seems to want to withdraw.
• Try to avoid telling your teen what to do. Instead, listen closely and you may discover more about the issues causing the problems.
• If there is a close friend or family member your teen is close to and comfortable with, you might suggest your teen talk with this person about their concerns.

If you feel overwhelmed or unable to reach your teen, or if you continue to be concerned, seek help from a qualified health care professional.

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What Is Depression In Children And Teens

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.

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 milder, ongoing form of depression called dysthymia . In its most severe form, depression can cause a child to lose hope and want to die.

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.

How To Communicate With A Depressed Teen

Focus on listening, not lecturing. Resist any urge to criticize or pass judgment once your teenager begins to talk. The important thing is that your child is communicating. You’ll do the most good by simply letting your teen know that you’re there for them, fully and unconditionally.

Be gentle but persistent. Don’t give up if they shut you out at first. Talking about depression can be very tough for teens. Even if they want to, they may have a hard time expressing what they’re feeling. Be respectful of your child’s comfort level while still emphasizing your concern and willingness to listen.

Acknowledge their feelings. Don’t try to talk your teen out of depression, even if their feelings or concerns appear silly or irrational to you. Well-meaning attempts to explain why things aren’t that bad will just come across as if you don’t take their emotions seriously. Simply acknowledging the pain and sadness they are experiencing can go a long way in making them feel understood and supported.

Trust your gut. If your teen claims nothing is wrong but has no explanation for what is causing the depressed behavior, you should trust your instincts. If your teen won’t open up to you, consider turning to a trusted third party: a school counselor, favorite teacher, or a mental health professional. The important thing is to get them talking to someone.

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Depression In Children And Adolescents

Depression can show up in children and adolescents as prolonged periods of unhappiness or irritability. It is quite common among older children and teenagers, but often goes unrecognized.

Some children might say they feel unhappy or sad. Others might say they want to hurt or even kill themselves. Children and adolescents who experience depression are at greater risk of self-harm, so such responses should always be taken seriously.

Just because a child seems sad, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have depression. But if the sadness becomes persistent or interferes with normal social activities, interests, schoolwork or family life, it may mean they need support from a mental health professional.

Remember, only a doctor or a mental health professional can diagnose depression, so dont hesitate to ask your health-care provider for advice if you are worried about your child.

Talking To Someone About Depression

It may seem like theres no way your parents will be able to help, especially if they are always nagging you or getting angry about your behavior. The truth is, parents hate to see their kids hurting. They may feel frustrated because they dont understand what is going on with you or know how to help.

• If your parents are abusive in any way, or if they have problems of their own that makes it difficult for them to take care of you, find another adult you trust . This person can either help you approach your parents, or direct you toward the support you need.
• If you truly dont have anyone you can talk to, there are many hotlines, services, and support groups that can help.
• No matter what, talk to someone, especially if you are having any thoughts of harming yourself or others. Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do, and the first step on your way to feeling better.

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What Is Teen Depression

The mental and emotional disorder known as teen depression is no different medically from adult depression. However, symptoms in teens may manifest themselves in different ways than in adults.

This may be because teens face different social and developmental challenges, such as peer pressure, changing hormone levels, and developing bodies.

Depression can be associated with high levels of stress, anxiety, and in the most serious scenarios suicide. It can also affect these aspects of a teens life:

This can lead to social isolation and other problems.

Depression isnt a condition people can snap out of or simply cheer up from. Its a real medical condition that can affect a persons life in every manner if its not treated properly.

According to the , around 3.2 million Americans between 12 and 17 years old had at least one major depressive episode in 2017. They represent 13.3 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds in the United States.

Females were around three times as likely as males to report a depressive episode.

Why Depression Treatment Might Not Be Working

If your child already is in treatment but it isnt helping, ask them why they think that is. What isnt helpful or what dont they like about therapy? Are there things about therapy they do like? Maybe you can work together to find a therapist who does more of the things they like. If you do consider changing therapists, its important to discuss this with their current therapist before the decision to change is made. Many times, the therapy and/or the therapeutic relationship can be improved.

Keep in mind that therapy usually isnt effective if the person in treatment isnt committed to it, or is doing it to please someone else. Your child should want to get better for themselves. Unfortunately, sometimes people have to get worse before they want help. But the good news is that if you lay the groundwork by strengthening your connection now, theyll be more likely to turn to you for support when theyre finally ready.

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