There’s nothing abnormal about feeling sad, lonely, or unhappy at certain times in life. It’s something we all experience from time to time and for different reasons – a loved one passes away, troubles at work or school, or fighting with a loved one.
With that said, some people experience extreme and persistent moments of sadness that start interfering with their ability to live a quality, happy, healthy, and meaningful life. If the condition worsens, the individual will be diagnosed with depression – a serious mental health condition.
The most significant sign of clinical depression versus natural feelings of sadness is the length of how long these feelings last, and what causes the feelings. While it is natural to feel sad for a while when something bad happens, a person with clinical depression with notice feelings of sadness that can last for weeks, brought on for little to no reason at all.
Over 280 million people are living with depression in the world today, and over 21 million people living in the United States have major depression. It’s one of the most common mental illnesses in the world as a whole and can result in self-harm and adverse health if not treated properly.
How Many Teens Suffer From Depression?
Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children, with about 2.7 million diagnosed with depression. Roughly 1 in 10 children between the ages of 10 and 14 have depression, and approximately three in 10 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 have depression. Overall, depression occurs in about 13% of all adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 years old.
If not treated in a timely manner and using effective methods, depression can interfere with a teenager’s ability to live a happy and meaningful life – which gets in the way of their growth and development. This can damage one’s physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health.
Why is Teen Depression Common?
Our teenage years are critical to the overall growth and development of our mind, body, and soul. During this time, our bodies are going through a wide range of changes, and we’re learning a lot about how the world works. This can be overwhelming to some teenagers.
Not only that, but we have much more freedom and responsibility in our teenage years than compared in our childhood years. As teenagers, we’re finally making our own decisions and forming our own opinions about the world we live in. That’s a lot for a teen to handle.
With the amount of pressure we experience during these years, it’s no wonder why so many teens today are depressed. Whether it’s a result of academics, athletics, social life, parental influence, or anything else that’s weighing them down, depression is common in most teens.
What are the Signs of Depression in Teens?
To treat teenage depression symptoms, the disorder must first be diagnosed by a mental health professional – which means it must be detected and brought to their attention. Unfortunately, most teenagers are either unaware of their symptoms or avoiding/hiding them.
That’s why parents, guardians, family members, friends, and teachers play an essential role in ensuring teenagers receive proper and prompt treatment for depression. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the most common and prominent signs of depression in teens:
- Extreme or persistent periods of sadness
- Frustration, anger, annoyed, irritable, or angst
- Feeling worthless, hopeless, guilty, or shameful
- Lack of interest in social activity
- Lack of interest in things they once enjoyed
- Difficulty concentrating, thinking, remembering, focusing
- Suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Changes in sleeping habits or patterns
- Slowed speech or slow movements
- Paying less attention to personal hygiene
- Poor grades or frequently getting in trouble
- Unexplained aches, pains, or headaches
If you notice any of the teen depression signs listed above in your child, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Contact their primary doctor right away to discuss your next options. The sooner you help your child get the treatment they so desperately need, the sooner they can recover!
How to Find Depression Treatment for Teens in Los Angeles, CA
Is your teenage son or daughter showing any glaring teenage depression symptoms? Are those teen depression signs starting to interfere with their ability to live a quality life? Do you want your child to receive quality treatment for their depression? If so, then you’ve come to the right place.
At Multi Concept Recovery, we specialize in drug addiction, substance use disorders, and mental health treatment in Southern California. Our treatment is not only effective for teens, but we also provide adult and college student treatment programs in Los Angeles as well. To learn more about our Burbank treatment center, call us today!
