06 Feb Teenage Angst or Clinical Depression? How to Tell if Your Adolescent is at Risk

Clinical depression can be a struggle for adults but it is particularly challenging for children and teens; in addition to affecting their ability to learn and impairing their ability to gain critical socialization skills, it puts them at greater risk for suicide.  Teen suicide is on the increase and is the third leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 24, following accidents and homicide.  Depression in teens can present differently than in adults.    Whereas adults might show sadness, depressed teens often predominately show anger, irritability and sarcasm. A depressed teenager may be grumpy, hostile, easily frustrated, or prone to angry outbursts.

How do you tell the difference between clinical depression, which is a medical disorder, and ordinary teen moodiness?

If you see the following symptoms for at least two weeks, your child may have depression:

• An irritable, sad, or empty mood
• Statements that life is meaningless
• Loss of interest in sports or activities previously enjoyed
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Changes in appetite, resulting in significant weight gain or loss
• Too much or too little sleep with trouble getting up in the morning
• Drug and alcohol abuse — teens may use alcohol or drugs in an attempt to “self-medicate” their depression
• Unusually poor performance in school, a drop in grades, or frequent absences
• Frequent complaints of physical pain (headaches or stomachache) or frequent visits to a school nurse
• Low self-esteem and feelings of shame, failure, and unworthiness; making negative statements about themselves
• Negligent behaviors such as reckless driving, out-of-control drinking, and unsafe sex

Keep in mind that a lot of these symptoms are also indicative of normal teenage behavior. Therefore, if one is concerned that behavioral changes might be due to depression, they should be evaluated by a trained professional like a psychiatrist.  For an evaluation, contact the team at the Institute for Advanced Medical Research in Alpharetta today: 770-817-9200.