Teen depression has been a pressing issue in our society but so many people take this issue with levity and feel it is not something to even worry about. This negligence has caused the lives of many teenagers out there. Most times, this blame should be placed on the parents because under normal circumstances, parents should notice the different changes in the body chemistry of their children and they should also make sure they are approachable by their children so that this children can take them as a confidant when ever they have a problem.
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Teen depression is a serious mental health problem that comes with a continous feeling of sadness and this also gives room to a loss of interest in any activity.
When depression sets, it affects the thinking pattern and feelings of a teenager. It also causes emotional, functional and physical problems. Amongst teens, issues such as peer pressure, academic expectations and changing bodies can bring a lot of ups and downs for teens. Teen depression is not something that you have control over. It comes with serious side effects and so therefore it requires a long term treatment.
Symptoms of Depression
The signs and symptoms of depression in a teenager majorly includes the change in a previous character into a new found character. These symptoms are embedded into two major changes which is the EMOTIONAL CHANGES and BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES
Emotional Changes
- The person has frequent thoughts of death and sucide.
- He/she starts feeling hopeless or empty
- He/she begins to lose interest or pleasure in normal activities
- They begin to have problem remembering things
- Irritable or annoyed mood.
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Behavioral changes - He/she begins to use alcohol or drugs
- Social Isolation
- He/she begins to have a poor performance in school
- They get angry easily
- Making a sucide plan or a sucide attempt.
Causes of Teen Depression
The real cause of depression is not known but a variety of issues may be involved. They include;
Hormones:A change in the body balance of the hormone can trigger a depression in the body.
Inherited Traits: Depression can be passed through blood. Relatives with such conditions can pass the traits down to their offsprings
Childhood Trauma: Traumatic events during childhood can cause changes in the brain and this can also cause depression.
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Prevention
There is no sure way to prevent depression in teenagers. However, some techniques can be adopted to help the teenager.
He/she should try to get fast treatment whenever he gets any sign of depression in order to prevent worsening.
Reach out for friendship and social support, especially in times of crisis
He/she should ensure that he controls stress, increase resilience and most importantly, boost self-esteem.
Dear readers, Why not pay attention to people around you today. When you see somebody going through depression, try to show concern. Talk to the person and if need be, report the case to the appropriate authority. Depressed teenagers are most liable to committing sucide. When you see any case, please help.
STOP