How to Tell If Your Teen is Depressed or Just Sassy

If you have a teenager in the house, you know how quickly their mood will change.  It is understood that teen years are the hardest.  They are constantly experiencing a roller coaster of emotions, and taking them out on parents, siblings, and friends.  How can we tell if a teenager is being "a sassy teenager" or he/she is depressed?

Signs of Depression

• Withdrawal, such as stop wanting to hang out with friends, playing sports, or stay in his/her bedroom alone all the time

• Changing in eating and sleeping habits

• Poor school performance

• Absenteeism

• Intense irritability

• Angry outbursts

• Using drug and alcohol

• Feeling sad, hopelessness, negative, lack of confident, worthless, and inadequate
  

• Loss of a loved one, break-up with boyfriend/girlfriend

• Chronic illness

• Experienced abuse or neglect

• Harassment, teased, or made fun of by friends

According to experts, if these symptoms lasted longer than two weeks, it is the signs of depression.

How You Can Help as Parents

• Talk to your teenager, ask them what you can do to help, how can you help, and open up the line of communication.  It can lower the stress levels for your teen.

• Replace shame and punishment with positive reinforcement for good behavior when discipline your child.  You do not want to add to their confused being at this time.

• Allow your teenager to make some choices and mistakes.  They will learn from them!  Have faith in their abilities to make decision, and boost their confident.

• Give your teen breathing room.  Do not expect your child to do exactly what he/she is told.

• Never try to relive your life through your child, by making him/or her playing the sport that you had played before, or like the same thing you like.

• Make sure you actively listen to your teen when he/she comes to you.  Do not dismiss the problem as unreal or questioning his/her feeling.  Remember, it is real to them!

If you are concerned and you cannot reach your teenager, talk to your family physician.  Depression can be treated!  Seek professional help!