How to Support a Teenager Struggling with Depression
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Depression affects some teenagers during their transformative years. While most teens will have mood swings from time to time, depression in teenagers represents a critical mental health condition that impacts their emotions and life experience. If your teen is dealing with depression or you suspect they are, the process of healing relies on the identification of symptoms and appropriate support methods.
Recognising the Signs of Teen Depression
Teen depression symptoms often do not present as traditional sadness, and some indicators could be more visible than others. Here's what to look out for:
Frequent irritability, together with anger outbursts.
Displaying a substantial loss of interest in their previous hobbies, activities, and social interaction with family members.
Excessive sleep patterns or reduced sleep, together with major alterations in eating behaviour, result in weight fluctuations.
A drop in grades, trouble concentrating at school, or a lack of motivation towards schoolwork.
Pulling away from spending time with friends.
Complaints of headaches or stomach aches that don't have a clear medical cause.
Persistent self-doubt which leads to excessive negative self-talk.
Persistent low energy and tiredness.
Mentions of death, dying, or self-harm – this should be taken very seriously.
The appearance of multiple signs that persist for longer than two weeks is a strong indicator of depression in a teen.
How to Support Your Teenager
The process of supporting a teenager with depression needs patience, understanding, and proactive interventions.
Open communication: Listen, don't lecture. Establish a secure environment for your teen to share thoughts without facing criticism. Use open-ended questions to explore their emotional state and their daily experiences. Actively listen more than you speak.
Validate their feelings: Your acknowledgement of their distress and sadness should be genuine, even if their concerns seem unreasonable to your understanding. They need your full acceptance because dismissing their feelings or attempting to convince them out of depression will not help their situation. Let them know their feelings are important.
Encourage professional help: While your support is vital, professional assistance may be necessary in some situations. Encourage your teen to see a doctor or mental health professional who can provide a diagnosis and discuss treatment options such as therapy or medication.
Promote healthy habits: Physical exercise, balanced eating, and consistent sleep patterns should be encouraged. Your teen's mood and general health status are significantly influenced by these life habits.
Be patient and persistent: Recovery takes time, and there will be ups and downs. Show consistent support and understanding to your teen throughout any periods where they withdraw from you. Regularly engage with their treatment plan and keep track of their therapeutic advancement.
Educate yourself: Acquire knowledge about teenage depression as much as possible. Learning about this condition enables better teen support and improves understanding of their situation.
Ensure a safe environment: A supportive home environment should be established for the entire family. If there are concerns about self-harm, remove or limit access to items that could be used for harm and discuss an emergency plan.
Take care of yourself too: Caring for a teen who is battling depression can be emotionally exhausting. Prioritise your own mental and physical health by seeking support when needed.
If you are worried about a teenager who is showing signs of depression, The Grove Counselling & Therapy offers a safe and confidential place to explore challenges and develop strategies for well-being through teenage counselling and depression counselling. Contact us today to find out how we can support your family.