Teen Depression

Depression is defind as an illness when the feeling of sadness, hopelessness and despair presist or interfere with a child or adolescent's ability to function.

Two of the main causes of depression are:

>Unresolved grief due to death, loss of relationship, loss of hopes and dreams, abandonment, or traumatic event

 Children under stress, who experience loss, or who have attention, learning, conduct  or anxiety disorders are at a higher risk for depression.

>Depressed youth often have problems at home.  In many cases, the parents are depressed, as depression tends to run in families.

>Over the past 50 years, depression has become more common and is now recognized at increasingly younger ages. As the rate of depression rises, so does the teens suicide rate which alot of people started to discuss latley.

>It is important to remember that the behavior of depressed children and teenagers may differ from the behavior of depressed adults.  The characteristics vary, with most children and teens having additional psychiatric such us behavior diorders or substance abuse.

Mental health professionals advise parents to be aware of signs of depression in their children.(If one or more of these presist parents should seek help).

Frequent sadness, tearfulness, crying

Teens may show their pervasive sadness by wearing black clothes, writing poetry with morbid themes, or having a preoccupation with music that has motivation themes.  They also may cry for no apparent reason.

Hoplessness

Teens may feel that life is not worth living or worth the effort to even maintain their appearance or hygiene.  They may believe that a negative situation will never change and be pessimistic about their future.

Presistent boredom;low energy

Lack of motivation and lowered energy level is reflected by missed classes or not going to school.   A drop in grade averages can be equated with loss of concentration and slowed thinking.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Depressed teens may abuse alchol or other drugs as a way to feel better.

Self-Injury

Teens who have difficulty talking about their feelings may show their emotional tension, physical discomfort, emotional pain, and low self-esteem with self injurious behavior, such as cutting.

Poor concentration

Teens may have trouble concentrating on schoolwork, following a conversation, or even watching television.

Difficulty with relationships

Teens may suddenly have no interest in maintaining friendship. They'll stop calling and visiting their friends.

 We noticed from these topics most of the problems that affect teenagers and teenagers suffer from. These topics includes most of the problems not all of them since teenagers suffer from alot.

Teenagers facing boredom and depression, we all must try to let our children and us away of this statment and do our best.