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During adolescence, biological changes, psychological development, experiencing childhood trauma, and social transitions all play a factor in the emergence of a mental health disorder. Major Depressive Disorder, in particular, is one of the most common mental health disorders affecting approximately 3.2 million teens in the US [1].
Depression affects how teens think, feel, behave and act. It impairs brain chemistry, affecting emotional regulation and increasing negative feelings like sadness, hopelessness, and loneliness. All of which can affect essential functioning of sleep, appetite, mood, communication, learning, and memory.
Sometimes teens can suffer from “silent depression,” meaning their behavior, mood, or energy levels are affected, even if they don’t feel depressed. It’s important for parents to understand that the signs of depression go further than feeling sad or moody.
Read on to understand how to recognize these warning signs and what parents can do to support depression in their teens.
What Are The Signs of Depression in Teens?
For decades, depression has been portrayed in the media as feeling sad, staying in bed, and sudden crying spells. Although depression can look like this in some teens, other times it can be sneaky and appear as classic teenage behaviors, other mental health problems, or even physical health conditions.
- Classic teenage behaviors: Depression can make already moody teens increasingly angry or aggressive.
- Other mental health problems: Depression can make it hard to focus, cause academic decline or risky behavior—mimicking mental health problems like bipolar disorder, ADHD, and anxiety [2].
- Physical health conditions: According to the Cleveland Clinic, 90% of the body’s serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in mood, sleep, and appetite, is produced in the digestive tract. These fluctuations in serotonin cause gastrointestinal problems, headaches, and sleep and appetite disturbances. Depression has also been linked to an increased risk of chronic physical diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndromes, and autoimmune disorders [3].
Emotional Signs
Depression is widely known for its emotional signs and mood impairment. These include:
- Hopelessness
- Sadness
- Drastic mood swings
- Shame, guilt, fear
- Irritability
- Lack of pleasure or motivation
- Thoughts of self-harm or death
Behavioral Signs
Ongoing depression can affect one’s relationships, academic performance, and daily functioning. Common behavioral signs of depression include:
- Social isolation and withdrawal from activities
- Aggression or violence
- Risky or impulsive behavior, such as substance use, unprotected sex, or reckless driving
- Inability to sleep
- Changes in appetite
- Slipping grades, missing or skipping class, frequent fights with peers
- Neglecting personal responsibilities, a decline in basic hygiene
- Self-harm (cutting or burning themselves, or intentionally putting themselves in life-threatening or harmful situations)
Physical Signs
Recognizing the physical signs of depression can be extra challenging. These include:
- Gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting, bloating, constipation, diarrhea)
- Headaches or migraines
- Loss of energy
- Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Muscle tension, joint pain’
- Low sex drive
- Slowed or lifeless movements or speech patterns
- Worsened premenstrual symptoms for teen girls
How to Help A Teen With Depression
Recognizing the warning signs of depression is the first step to helping your teen. If you identify your teen is struggling with their mental health, there are a few ways to support them.
Open Communication
Having open, honest, and direct conversations with teens about once-taboo topics like mental health, drugs, sex, current events, and social media is important. Teens with depression can especially benefit from parents taking more of an interest in their lives and fostering a connection.
However, these conversations shouldn’t be forced. Teens can tell when adults are being authentic. Ask them genuine questions to get to know them and their opinions. And unless there is a valid safety concern, avoid asking them probing and intensely direct questions, like if they are using drugs, having sex, or drinking alcohol. Teens don’t always feel comfortable sharing these things with parents if there isn’t already a foundation of trust established.
If you’re just beginning to build an open line of communication with your teen, some topics to get you started include:
- What kind of music are they listening to? Who are their favorite artists?
- Who are some of their favorite TikTokers, Youtubers, actors/actresses, or influencers?
- Who are their friends? What classes do they have with them? What do they like about their friends?
- What classes do they like or don’t like? Get to know how they feel about their teachers and peers.
- If they are involved in extracurriculars, ask them about those. If your teen is in sports, do they like their teammates and coach? If your teen is in the arts, what recent projects are they working on?
Model and Encourage Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Teenagers learn through observation, and it’s important for parents to match their actions with their behavior. If their parents tell them to do one thing while modeling another, this can make them more likely not to listen to what is being said.
Model for your teen health self-care habits, positive ways to relieve stress, and healthy eating and sleeping routines. Teach them how to use conflict resolution, communication, and problem-solving skills. If you struggle with your own mental health challenges, be open and transparent with your teen about this.
Seek Professional Help
If you are concerned for the safety, health, or emotional well-being of your teen, it is okay to reach out for external support. Consider seeking support from a trusted loved one who has gone through a similar experience with their child, your primary care doctor, or a local mental health facility.
You can also find local resources online for mental health support. Some helpful websites include Psychology Today, FindTreatment.Gov, RehabPath, SAMHSA, and Mental Health America.
Can Teen Depression Go Away On Its Own?
Teens who are going through a challenge or transition may exhibit signs of depression that go away after the outside stressor is removed. However, depression is a clinical mental health disorder that almost always requires some form of treatment or support to improve symptoms.
This includes a combination of evidence-based therapies such as CBT, medication like antidepressants, or lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise or changes in nutrition.
The cure for depression is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Some teens require small lifestyle changes to improve their mood, while others require higher level of care and medication to function. It’s important that teens feel like their individual needs are met during whatever course of treatment they are in.
Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatment for Depression in Teens
Clearfork Academy residential facility is a licensed treatment program with 24/7 supervision, helping teens recover from depression and other mental health or substance abuse disorders.
We provide around-the-clock care and support to teens on their journey toward sobriety and wellness. We offer evidence-based treatments such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR and strive to educate parents about mental health.
Contact our admissions team today to see how we can support your family.
Sources
[1] Mental Health of Adolescents. 2024. World Health Organization.
[2] Medical mimics: Differential diagnostic considerations for psychiatric symptoms. 2016. National Library of Medicine.
[3] Serotonin. 2022. Cleveland Clinic.
Founder & CEO
Originally from the Saginaw, Eagle Mountain area, Austin Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry from Lee University in Cleveland, TN and a Master of Arts in Counseling from The Church of God Theological Seminary. He then went on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in the State of Texas.
Austin’s professional history includes both local church ministry and clinical counseling. At a young age, he began serving youth at the local church in various capacities which led to clinical training and education. Austin gained a vast knowledge of mental health disorders while working in state and public mental health hospitals. This is where he was exposed to almost every type of diagnosis and carries this experience into the daily treatment.
Austin’s longtime passion is Clearfork Academy, a christ-centered residential facility focused on mental health and substance abuse. He finds joy and fulfillment working with “difficult” clients that challenge his heart and clinical skill set. It is his hope and desire that each resident that passes through Clearfork Academy will be one step closer to their created design.
Austin’s greatest pleasures in life are being a husband to his wife, and a father to his growing children. He serves at his local church by playing guitar, speaking and helping with tech arts. Austin also enjoys being physically active, reading, woodworking, and music.
