Causes Of Teen Depression

By Tess Thompson

Normal adolescent behavior is marked by mood changes. A couple of good experiences and teens feel that everything is fine with the world. One episode of indifference shown by a friend, especially of the opposite sex, makes teens feel as if the world is falling apart. Parents are prone to shrug off such transient depressive episodes because clinical depression seems to be too big a word to be used in the context of children. However, it is a fact that child depression does exist and the statistics indicate the makings of a nationwide phenomenon.

Teen depression is often confused with other conditions like anxiety,

conduct and mood disorders. Moreover, teens tend to hide transient episodes from parents and often take to alcohol or self medicate with drugs. This makes it all the more difficult to diagnose the condition. Adolescents who are low on self esteem, excessively self-critical or unable to come to terms with events in their lives are at a higher risk of developing depression. Teenage girls are at a higher risk and more prone to develop depression than teenage boys.

Clinical depression is a continuous state of low mood characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy. It is also proven by a despondent lack of activity that lasts for at least three months. Clinical depression can be caused due to hereditary or physical abnormalities within the brain. It is actually caused by a conflict - a conflict that goes on within the mind.

Outside of genetics and abnormalities in the brain structure, some of the causes of teen depression include:

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Family dysfunction - This is the most common cause behind child depression. Parents often fail to realize the affect that their behavior has on the psyche of the child. It has been observed that parents find it easy to label the child as a patient and are defensive about accepting the harm that they may have caused. Family dysfunction includes aspects of inadequate communication or independence conflicts between parents or between parents and the child.

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Stress at school - School has ceased to be an enjoyable experience in the current scene where competition is emphasized more than learning. Children who face stress at school are more prone to develop depression.

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Unrealistic parental expectations - Well meaning parents who are concerned about their children tend to push their children over the edge without realizing that each individual has his or her own intellectual limitations. Parents who place unrealistic expectations upon their children actually do more harm than good.

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Unresolved grief - Death, loss of a cherished relationship or a traumatic event exposes teens to a greater risk of depression.

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Emotional detachment - The adolescent mind is highly emotional and there is no guarantee of how a teenager will perceive his or her inabilities. Many times, inability to connect with others and an excessive fear of building new relationships may be the cause behind teen depression.

Depression, as it is, is difficult to diagnose. The condition becomes even more difficult to identify among teens. Parents should be well informed of the signs of depression and seek teen depression help from a consultant who is a specialist in teenage problems.

Parental Intervention - Depression In Teen Girls

With rates of child depression and teen suicide soaring, there is a dire need of understanding what is happening with young boys and girls. Parenting is not limited to providing material comforts and opportunities for learning. It also involves providing emotional support to children when they need it. Many teenagers break down during the college days. But the roots of such an incident are actually laid well before that age.

Teenagers go through a tough phase when they discover their

real self and come to terms with their position in society. This is irrespective of caste, financial status or brilliance in a particular field. Parental intervention at this stage in helping the teenager to come to terms with reality can play an effective role. Support and guidance needs to come when the teenager begins to contemplate of certain issues. If support is not made available in the initial stages, it is likely that the situation may develop into one of clinical depression or denial. Later, parental teen depression help may not be sufficient and professional help may need to be sought.

There is a subtle difference between teen depression in boys and girls. Teen depression in boys is mostly dependent on moods. Teen depression in girls tend to be more prone to depression due to the typical manner on which females process information and react to stimuli. Parents need to guide their daughters to enable them to critically analyze the modern rules, some of them unspoken, of adolescence.

Girls are likely to be more emotional than boys. While boys tend to be casual about relationships that they develop with the opposite sex, girls tend to be more emotionally involved. This results in a disturbed state of mind when there is a break-up. A friendly relationship with your daughter can help you explain to her about the various emotional upheavals you went through during your teenage, only to emerge happy and satisfied with your spouse.

It is difficult to generalize but mothers are better equipped to build up a friendly relationship with girls as they are likely to be open with mothers than with fathers for obvious reasons. However, close relationships between father and daughter is not an uncommon phenomenon. The best way to develop a good relationship with the daughter is through patient listening. Talking about the various events at school, the pressures, stress and other events without being judgmental can help you identify early signs of depression. Try to respect the child's privacy and do not crowd her with too much inquisitiveness. Try to identify with her problem and let her know that you understand how difficult it can be. Also mention that all problems have a solution and they can be managed and solved.

An interesting study reveals that girls who smoke are at a 40% higher risk of developing depression. There is a great likelihood that smoking is an effort to self-medicate, just as drugs and alcohol, to get over depressive feelings. Teenagers are very frugal in displaying their fears, sadness and resentment. It is only a keenly observant parent who can notice subtle signs of an impending problem. While it is important for parents to learn about the risks and symptoms of teen depression in girls, they also need to learn about how to deal with it head-on.

Effects Of Teen depression

Perhaps the most devastating blow on human health has been dealt by modern lifestyles. What is more alarming is that changes in society and the overall approach towards issues like life and success has had a great negative impact on our children. There are now more instances of teen depression than ever before.

Besides primary needs of food, clothing and shelter, humans

have emotional needs that must also be met. In traditional communities these basic needs were met naturally. Many traditional societies had a perfect system in place for providing community support to children where parents were too busy or out to work for survival. With more nuclear families and the mad rush to succeed in material terms at all costs has led to a situation where the emotional needs of children are neglected.

Child depression is a natural fall out from such indifference and ignorance and the issue has now become a reality that modern society has to grapple with.

Sometimes, behavioral changes in a teenager are ignored as parents feel that a problem child is acting out with a purpose of gaining attention or making a statement. Such instances can often be misunderstood and the fact that a child is suffering from teen depression can be missed.

Teen depression is a legitimate concern and a condition that is as important as any other physical ailment. It has serious consequences and is prone to recur and continue into adult life. Some of the immediate behavioral changes that you may see in your child if he/she is prone to depression are:

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Recreational drugs - Where parental support is not forthcoming, teens normally tend to look for relief from prolonged sadness and anxiety from inappropriate sources. Substance abuse like drugs and alcohol are common among depressed teens.

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Lack of confidence - Lack of self esteem is a prominent sign of depression. It can lead to an increase in negative feelings and self criticism.

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Eating disorders - Depression can lead to binge eating, obsessive dieting, anorexia (prolonged eating disorder due to loss of appetite) or bulimia (guilt and self condemnation after binge eating).

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Low academic performance - Low grades in school are not only a sign of depression but also a result of teen depression.

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Behavioral changes - Depression often leads teenagers to indulge in risky activities that cause injury or death. Teenagers tend to come to terms with depression by inflicting pain on them. Cutting, burning and banging the head against walls are common examples.

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Decisions - It becomes increasingly difficult for depressed teenagers to handle everyday decisions and pressures.

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Suicide - Suicide is the ultimate effect of a prolonged feeling of despondency. By the time depression leads to a suicidal tendency, the child has probably woven a web of hopelessness that refuses to go away. Unable to get out of it, the only solution that comes to mind is that of ending life. The first indication that suicide is being contemplated comes from talks of death. Immediate teen depression help should be sought even at the slightest hint.

Modern society has evolved in a way that individualism has gained precedence over everything else. It has become literally impossible for people to understand the importance of the wider community. It is high time that we all got out of this self centered approach and provide the emotional support that our children need.