Is your teen always sad? Is it depression? (Teen Depression) Let's talk about this!

Have you ever noticed that your teenager is constantly angry or sad and wondered, "Is this just a mood swing or is it something more?" It's actually quite common for children to feel sad at a young age. It's not surprising that their emotions can fluctuate wildly with the hormonal changes that come with that age. However, surveys show that as many as one in eight teenagers have depression. The best thing is that it can be treated. So if your child's sadness lasts for more than two weeks and they're also showing other signs of depression, it might be time to see a doctor for help.

Why do young children get depressed?

There can be more than one reason why a young person may be depressed. For example, a child may feel worthless or incapable because of poor grades at school. In addition, things like peer pressure, sexual orientation, and family problems can all have a profound impact on a child's mind. Sometimes, depression can also be caused by environmental stress.

What are the symptoms of this?

Often, children with depression show significant changes in their thinking and behavior. The main symptom is that they feel sad all the time for no reason . They may lose interest in anything, withdraw from society, and stay in their room for hours after school.

Let's understand this more clearly from the table below.

Can depression be hereditary?

Yes, it is possible. The disease, which usually begins between the ages of 15 and 30, can sometimes be hereditary. In fact, if someone in the family has had depression before, a young child is at slightly higher risk of developing it.

How does a doctor accurately diagnose depression?

There is no specific blood test or scan to diagnose depression. A doctor makes the diagnosis by talking to the child, family, teachers, and conducting psychological tests.

The information obtained from this conversation is used to determine the severity of the depression and the risk of suicide. The doctor also checks whether the child has other mental illnesses, such as anxiety, substance abuse, or bipolar disorder.

What are the treatments for depression?

There are several ways to treat depression. Medications and psychotherapy are the main methods. If a child's depression is exacerbated by family conflicts, family therapy can be very helpful. In addition, the child needs the support of family and teachers to solve problems at school or with friends. In some severe cases, treatment may be required in a psychiatric unit of a hospital.

Important: The FDA warns that some antidepressants may, in rare cases, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts. Therefore, it is important to stay in close contact with your doctor and monitor your child closely when starting this medication. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor.

Does the medicine really work?

Yes. Numerous studies have shown that antidepressant medications can help relieve symptoms. A recent major study looked at three treatments for young children with moderate to severe depression:

• The first method: using medication. For example, a drug called `(Prozac)`.
• The second method: `(Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)` or CBT treatment. Simply put, this involves identifying negative thought patterns in the child's mind and helping them change them.
• The third method: combining medication and CBT therapy.

After 12 weeks, researchers found that three-quarters of the children who received both medication and psychotherapy had made significant improvements . This shows how effective the combination of both treatments is.

What are the warning signs of suicide?

This is something we need to take very seriously. Suicide at a young age is a great tragedy. Family problems, the loss of a loved one, academic or relationship failures can cause unbearable pain in a child's heart. Depression can make these problems even more visible.

Warning signs of suicide may include:

• Talking about the future in a hopeless way.
• Giving up on yourself by saying things like "no one cares about me."
• Giving away your favorite belongings to others, writing farewell letters.
• Starting to use drugs or alcohol for mental relief or to fall asleep.
• Violent behavior.
• Threatening to commit suicide.

What can we do as parents?

Raising young children is a challenge, but there are several ways we can help reduce stress.

• Praise good things instead of punishing: Punishing and shaming a child can make them feel worthless. Instead, respond positively to the good things they do.
• Allow them to make mistakes: If we are always trying to protect them, they may lose confidence in their abilities.
• Give your child freedom: Don't expect them to do everything you say.
• Don't impose your dreams on your child: Don't try to force your child to go down a path you can't take yourself.
• Listen to your child: If you suspect your child is depressed, listen carefully to what he or she has to say. Even if the problem seems minor to you, it can be a huge problem for a child.
• Keep the lines of communication open: Even if your child tries to distance himself from you, don't stop talking. Instead of giving orders to "do this," if you listen carefully, you will be able to find the cause of the problem.

Won't this get better without treatment?

Depression is a condition that can recur. Once it occurs, it is likely to recur at other times in life. Therefore, the consequences of not treating it can be very serious, even fatal. Therefore, it is essential to provide proper medical treatment.

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