Question: How do I know if my teen is depressed? What are the signs?
Answer: Depression is often an unrecognized problem among teens. Depression may vary from short-term mood swings to chronic recurrent feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
Factors that are linked with depression in teens include low self-esteem, loss of a loved one, family conflicts, and problems with peers. Teens who have a chronic illness, are homosexual or have a family history of depression are at a high risk for depression, as well. The following are warning signs of teen depression:
- Changes in a teen's eating or sleeping pattern, such as decreased or increased eating or difficulty sleeping at night.
- Dramatic change in personality or behavior such as extreme moodiness or irritability.
- Drug or alcohol abuse such as regular use of cigarettes or marijuana.
- Decline in school performance.
- Lack of interest in the future.
- Withdrawal from friends, family and regular activities.
- A profound sense of hopelessness, guilt or unhappiness.
