Adolescents Parenting Education

Adolescent Depression: What you can do about it

Adolescent depression is a behavioral disorder that occurs mostly in the teenage years, between the ages of 13 - 19 years old.  This is can be prolong until the early twenties depending on the mental development of the child.  The disorder may include persistent sadness, discouragement, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, lack of interests in any activities, insecurities and self-doubt.  If left unnoticed it could lead to major depression which can be very fatal to the adolescent.

Causes and risk factors

There are a lot of reasons why an adolescent suffers depression.  You may wonder why a child whom you think has all the luxuries in the world can still be depressed.   Common causes of this are as follows:

1. The normal process of maturation - this plays a great role in the life of a teen.  Physically, a teenager has transformations that she/he may not have prepared for it.  For boys,   physical changes include hoarse and deep voice, Adam's apple is visible, increase of height, mustache are thicker, hair growing in the private parts and armpit hairs.  For girls, it is more profound and obvious.  Menarche, growth of breasts, hips is more defined, hairs in the private parts and armpit hair.  Even if this maturity stage is normal, if kids are left unguided through this stage, they feel scared, ashamed and confused what to do.  They will be the center of tease in the group and when they go home with no one to speak all the confusions to, depression comes in.
2. Conflicts with parents and/or Significant Others - Adolescents are very independent.  They want to do things on their own.  As much as possible, they do not want their parents getting on their way.  But, of course, parents normally interfere especially if the child is no longer in his right tracks.  Conflicts and arguments arise and the teen ager may feel that he is not loved.  This can also happen if the parents do not have much time for their kids.  They would feel unloved and when they are going to be reprimanded for doing something to get your attention, they would feel really bad about that.
3. Sibling Rivalry - This happens if in the family, favoritism is very significant.  Usually it is the child with lesser achievements, lesser beauty, less talented and less appreciated that suffers the depression.  Unfortunately, there are parents whose favoritism is greatly shown in their dealings with their kids.  The worst part is that parents would compare sibling A with sibling B.  This has a great impact to the child's feelings.  Aside from depression, the child will also feel hatred to the parents and to the other siblings.
4. Death, loneliness and fear - It can also be a disturbing happenstance such as an untimely death of a friend or someone close to the child and no one is there to comfort the child.  Feelings of loneliness and fears would haunt the child.  If a child in your house is undergoing a sudden loss like this, it is imperative that you are there to give the comfort.  Break up of a relationship even if adults consider it as "puppy love" plays a major role in the behavior of a child.  If there is no proper explanation and the child has no one to talk to, it can lead to serious depression and even untimely suicide.
5. Failures at school - this does not mean the grades only.  If the child is not accepted by the adolescents at school, confusion comes in.  If there is no one for her at home, she would confine in her own world and will feel so depress about it.

Adolescents who have low self-esteem, highly critical and who are very pessimist are most likely to feel depressed when a negative situation is thrown at him or her.  They get so emotional stress and adolescent depression sets in.

Risk factors

• Child abuse - physically, mentally and sexually
• Severe and unusual medical conditions
• History of depression in the family
• Shyness, timidity and aloofness
• Lack of appreciation

What you can do about it

So, you notice one day that your adolescent is acting strange.  This becomes worse so you consult a child psychologist only to be told that your adolescent has adolescent depression.  Instead of asking yourself why, ask yourself what you can do to help your child cope up the depression.

You can consider undergoing therapy sessions with your child with his psychotherapist.  However, if you are financially strained, what you can do is to spend more quality time with your child.  You can ask a home remedy programs from a psychologist or even check out information from the web and also books in the bookstore.  But, the most effective cure for adolescent depression is LOVE.  You have to let them feel they are loved and that they are important even if they fail at school or in any undertakings they are going through.