Depression in adolescence is an illness that must be taken seriously, as if it is not adequately treated it can cause consequences such as drug abuse and suicide, which are serious problems in a teenager’s life.
Some clinical characteristics of depression in adolescence are sadness, constant irritability, memory failures, lack of self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness. These characteristics can help parents, teachers and close friends identify this problem.
Depression in adolescence can be cured if the young person has medical and psychological care, family support and takes prescribed medication.
Main causes
Depression in adolescence can be triggered by several situations, such as drug and alcohol use, family history of depression, need for success and perfection, hormonal disorders and changes in the body, such as hair or breast growth.
Furthermore, the depressive state can occur after or during stressful situations, such as chronic illness, loss of a loved one or academic failure, for example. Family problems such as lack of attention and affection, bullying from peers at school or rejection can be other causes for the onset of depression in adolescence.
Symptoms of depression in adolescence
The symptoms of depression that a teenager may present may be:
- Sadness;
- Constant tiredness;
- Memory and concentration problems;
- Mood changes;
- Frequent crying;
- Lack of interest or pleasure in daily activities;
- Decreased appetite;
- Weight loss or gain;
- Insomnia.
See better how to identify the characteristic symptoms of depression in the following video:
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The diagnosis of depression can be made by analyzing the symptoms by a psychiatrist or an experienced doctor, who will be able to differentiate these symptoms from situations such as stress, anxiety or dysthymia, for example. Understand how depression is diagnosed, and how to differentiate it from sadness.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of depression in adolescence is done with antidepressant medications prescribed by the doctor, such as Sertraline, Fluoxetine or Amitriptyline, for example, which should be used daily to help improve symptoms.
However, it is essential to undergo psychotherapy for the treatment to be complete, as it helps adolescents to explore feelings or events that are painful for them.
How can family and friends help?
It is important for family and friends to be aware of the symptoms of depression to help the teenager and make them feel better. It is important that family and friends understand the teenager’s situation and do not treat them with pity or make them feel overprotected, as this can cause more anguish and worry in the teenager.
It is recommended to take simple actions that can show the teenager how important he is to people and carry out activities that promote his sense of well-being. Furthermore, it is important for the family to demonstrate that the teenager is integrated into the family and is important for decision-making, for example.
Practicing sports and cultural activities, psychological and parental support is important to help teenagers recover from depression. Check out what to do to cure depression faster.
