Adolescence years are marked with teenage trauma and turbulence; the trauma is real to a large group. The journey becomes more difficult if the teen faces mental health issues like depression. Parents, guardians and other people handling the teen at that stage of life tend to in most cases overlook signs of depression.
Signs of depression
Extreme melancholy
Extreme sadness is a major depression sign in your teen child. At this stage, the child should be energetic, full of life and ready to explore. If they are doing the opposite, then as a parent, you need to be worried because it is a sign of something wrong. If you realize your teen is not happy, do not ignore, intervene.
Drastic and abrupt change in eating habits and weight
Research says that obese teens are more likely to be depressed. If they are paranoid about their weight, it could mean depression. Also, a sudden change in eating habits or more eating is a sign of a depressed kid or in its early stages.
Depleting self-esteem
When a confident teen becomes shy or skeptical about their abilities, the depletion in self-confidence and self-worth could have been caused by depression. When depression strikes it first kills self-belief before totally eroding confidence.
Unusual sleep pattern
Sleep is another thing affected by depression. A depressed person can never sleep soundly. If you realize that your child is no longer sleeping sound or wakes up at late hours, make a point of seeing the psychiatrist.
Becoming a recluse
The teenager wants to mingle and hang out with friends. If you realize that your kid is avoiding people or prefer staying indoors alone, they could be depressed. Initiate a discussion with the child to find out what is the problem.
Physical discomfort
If your child is complaining of pain and discomfort, they are most likely depressed. Fatigue does not come without a reason. Do not take such complaints lightly. Address them with serious and visit a psychiatrist. If depression in teens is ignored, it can lead to more issues and disagreements in the family
Dropping grades in school
When a bright child all of a sudden starts performing poorly in school, it is a big sign of depression and unrest. Do not neglect such as a parent. Before you quarrel them on poor grades, sit them down and see what the real cause of the drop is. Encouragement, instilling confidence, and showering love could make things better for such a child.
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