Depressed teens may suffer from different forms of depression. First, there is major depression, dysthmia or reactive depression. In this sort, one would experience extreme feelings of sadness. Then there?S manic depression where there are bouts of elation and sadness in a cyclical manner. Different forms of therapy can be given to depressed teens.
Depressed teens often go on to become depressed college students. A study by the university of Michigan school of Public health found that college students with depression are twice as likely as their classmates to drop out of education.
Some depressed teens might also exhibit suicidal tendencies, and again, this has to be given serious concern. Depressed teens need somebody to listen and reach out to them. As well being a friend and listening ear to these teens, you can also encourage them to seek professional help or counseling.
While some depressed teens appear sad, others do not. In fact, irritability rather than depression is frequently the predominant symptom in depressed adolescents and teens. A depressed teenager may be hostile, grumpy, or easily lose his or her temper. Unexplained aches and pains are also common symptoms of depression in young people.
Depressed teens generally tend to have a negative outlook of themselves. They feel they are not up to the mark and can’t get there. They might also avoid all sorts of social contact especially family gatherings and events. They tend to have lesser or no friends and prefer to be aloof and stay localized to their rooms.
It’s not unusual for depressed teens to act out in some ways to take their mind off their intense feeling of sadness. They may become sexually promiscuous, engage in questionable activities, or start abusing substances. They do this in order to numb the pain they are feeling, but in reality they just create new problems and destroy the relationships they have inside and outside their home.
As the teen moves on from light to moderate depression, the main symptom is a deep-rooted boredom. He becomes increasingly uninterested in what is going on around him. He withdraws more and more. Eventually the depression leads to physical symptoms like headaches and other pains. Eating habits may be affected – the depressed teen may eat too much or too little. These physical symptoms often lead to a lack of energy, a common complaint in depressed teens. Depressed teens are particularly vulnerable to negative criticism and failure or rejection by peer groups. They may be consumed with feelings of worthlessness, rejection, and failure and may suffer from different forms of depression. They are also more than twice as likely as their peers to abuse or become dependent on marijuana.