Being a teenager can be tough. We can all agree to that. Having to deal with parents’ and teachers’ expectations, peer pressure, and hormonal changes are never fun. This can lead to feelings of sadness, irritability, or teenage “moodiness”, but sometimes this can be a sign of a much bigger problem.
Depression is often characterized as persistent feelings of sadness, worthlessness, or hopelessness. In teens, these symptoms can show a little differently, and often get confused with teenage moodiness.
Signs of Depression in Teens
Feelings or thoughts of worthlessness
This is the most common sign of depression, and it can manifest itself in various ways. If your teen is constantly telling self-deprecating jokes or it refuses to participate in certain activities that require a skill or ability because they do not think they are good enough for it, then your teen may have low self-esteem, which can morph into depression.
Irritability can be seen as your everyday moodiness unless it’s constant and seemingly never-ending. If your teen is getting constantly irritated or annoyed at his or her parents, siblings, friends, or even pets, then maybe it is time to sit down and talk because this can be a sign of a much bigger problem.
Withdrawal from friends and family – Your teen used to be the ultimate social butterfly who always hang out with friends, but now they are always in their room listening to loud music and refusing to go anywhere, even when invited. This symptom appears mostly in adults since teens often like to confide in their closest friends about any problems that they might have. However, just because your teen has not pushed friends and family aside, it does not mean they aren’t depressed.
Drug abuse
Some teens may use alcohol and other drugs as a means to have fun, others use it as self-medication. Unfortunately, the abuse of drugs only makes things worse. If your teen experiences drug withdrawal, they may also experience a worsening of depressive symptoms.
Fatigue, tiredness, or insomnia
Depression often comes with a lack of energy and fatigue. Sometimes, however, individuals who suffer from depression may find themselves unable to sleep, leading to overwhelming feelings of fatigue and tiredness. If you find your teen sleeping too much or too little, depression may be the cause of their disrupted sleep patterns.
Loss of interest in activities
Depression can take away the pleasure and enjoyment out of many activities. If your teen ceases to express enjoyment in participating in activities he or she used to love, it may due to a true loss of interest or depression.
Poor school performance
Your child used to always receive honor roll certificates, but he or she barely manages to pass any given class. Perhaps school is now too stressful or maybe they truly don’t understand the material, but sometimes school itself is the problem. Failing to meet parents’ and teachers’ expectations can lower a teenager’s self-esteem and self-worth, which can lead to even worse grades. Bullying can decrease school attendance and, as a result, school performance.
The Salt Suite® can help manage some of these symptoms by giving your teen a safe place to de-stress and relax. The 45-minute session can help your teen relax by allowing them to read or even take a nap while inhaling the dry salt air.
Teenage depression, while a serious health problem, can be treated with the family’s support, a psychologist, and sometimes a psychiatrist. If you believe your teenager is depressed, please consult your doctor.
“During a typical adult session, customers put their feet up in a comfortable leather chair rest or read and breathe in a dry salt aerosol. The microparticles are blown in the air by halo generators. In our separate children’s room kids play in a big sandbox except with salt on the walls and floor and play while breathing in the dry salt air.”
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