Teen depression

Teen years can be tough. You may have noticed that your teen does not seem like themselves. Your teen may be acting irritable, angry or withdrawn more than usual. Although it’s normal for teens to feel sad or irritable at times, when these feelings won’t go away it may be time to seek help. 

Symptoms of teen depression include:

• Sadness or hopelessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Anger or irritability
• Withdrawal
• Lack of motivation
• Crying spells
• Loss of interest in activities or sports
• Change in school performance
• Change in eating or sleeping patterns
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Lack of energy
• Unexplained headaches or  stomachaches
• Thoughts of death or suicide

*If your teen experiences suicidal thoughts, please seek help from the National Suicide Lifeline, or call 911*

If your teen experiences the above symptoms for 2 weeks or longer and the symptoms are persistent or reoccurring, it would be a good idea to get them evaluated for depression. 

Sometimes in can be difficult to tell the difference between ups and downs that are part of being a teenager or teen depression. If depression signs and symptoms continue and interfere in your teen's life, your doctor or pediatrician is a good place to start. Your teen's doctor can rule out any medical conditions. 

Therapy can help your teen develop coping tools to alleviate depression symptoms.  In therapy your teen will learn Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills. CBT will help your teen identify thoughts, behaviors and negative core beliefs that are contributing to depression symptoms and work on modifying them. Your teen will have a safe space to process difficult emotions and work on creating healthy self-esteem and positive relationships. 

Teen anxiety can look different than anxiety in adults and children. Your teen may be more worried about how well they are doing in school, what others think of them, about their bodies, especially if they are starting puberty before or after their friends. 

Teen anxiety can also be around grades, sports, or college admissions. Teens can express anxiety by withdrawing and avoiding others, lashing out, or being irritable. If you are wondering if your teen is suffering from anxiety some signs and behaviors to look out for are:

• Recurring fears or worries
• Trouble concentrating
• Extreme self-consciousness
• Recurring reassurance or approval seeking
• Sleep changes
• Drop in grades
• Restlessness
• Avoidance of new situations
• Withdrawal from social activities

If your teen is showing any of the above behaviors help is available. In therapy your teen will have a safe space to be able to process their fears and anxieties. Your teen will learn grounding techniques to deal with anxiety and learn cognitive and behavioral skills to process anxious thoughts and emotions. 

Therapy can help your teen develop:

• Skills to effectively manage stress and anger
• Relaxation and breathing exercises to deal with anxiety when it arises
• Coping tools to handle social anxiety or panic attacks

If you would like to find out ways you can help your teen with anxiety, request an appointment below to get started!

Therapy creates a safe place for your teen to identify and process emotions,  develop coping skills to deal with life transitions, and specific challenges teens face. 

Your teen will learn communication skills  to: 

• Listen actively
• Effectively express emotions
• Learn skills for effective conflict resolution
• Build skills that teach empathy
• Learn emotional intelligence

In therapy we will also work on developing healthy self-esteem and learn about boundaries in relationships. These skills will be paramount when your teen faces 

social pressures such as peer pressure, social comparison, pressures to fit in, and possible social aggression (exclusion or bullying). 

Therapy can help your teen develop strong internal boundaries and discover a strong sense of self which can help them develop the emotional intelligence. 

Teen therapy is structured and time limited, with clear goals and outcomes. If your teen is struggling with depression or anxiety they will learn Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills. CBT will help your teen identify thoughts, behaviors and negative core beliefs that are contributing to depression or anxiety symptoms and work on modifying them. 

As a parent you play a big role in the therapeutic process. As part of this process, you will get an update on your teen's progress with respect to their privacy. 

You can have a check in with your therapist to share any concerns throughout your  child's therapy.  

If you are ready to help your teen develop a stronger sense of self and make mental health a priority, reach out today to get started!