Depression for sufferers and carers

Teen Depression Occurs In Nearly Five Percent Of Teenagers, Supposedly

January 4th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Depression is really an illness when feelings of unhappiness, despondency as well as desolation do not seem to leave the adolescent and causes interference with the teenager’s ability to function. Teen depression is very common and it is believed that as many as five percent of teenagers are afflicted by depression at any given point of time.

Possible Reasons Could Be Stress, Family Situation Or It Could Be Genetic

Teen depression may be seen in children under stress who may have lost out on something or whose attention, learning capacity, conduct or anxiety disorders can be said to be more prone to depression. The incidence of teen depression is more common among teenage girls and among minority youth. A reason for teen depression could be problems at home and also occurs if there is already a depression in one of the family members.

Teen depression behavior may be different to the behavior of adults who are depressed and the characteristics can differ since most teenagers or children may have additional psychiatric disorders and these could be behavior disorders or substance abuse problems. There are certain signs and symptoms that may occur in teenagers which would indicate teen depression and these include frequent sadness, tearfulness as well as crying. One sure sign of teen depression would be a teenager who wears black clothes, writes poetry with sinister themes or is excessively obsessed with nihilistic music. Crying may also occur without there being any apparent reason for it.

Another sign of teen depression is hopelessness where the teenager may feel that life holds no advantage for them and there is a consequent lessening of efforts to keep clean or maintain a hygienic appearance. The teenager may be convinced that negative circumstances may never change and so feels very pessimistic about the future. There is also an instance of teen depression when the teenager becomes apathetic and leaves the club of which he or she is a member of or gives up on sports or other activities which they had enjoyed previously. The energy levels may be low in teenagers suffering from teen depression and this is seen in missed classes or bunking of school altogether. Grade averages go down and this may be a consequence of lost concentration and diminished thinking capabilities. There may also be social isolation and low self-esteem and feelings of guilt.