Irritability and unhappiness among teenagers may be the result of depression and are some of the symptoms of depression in teens. Although the mental disorder is typically associated with older, more stressed-out individuals, depression is just as likely among younger people (though it may occur less often) as it is in fully grown adults.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the following may all be warning signs and symptoms of depression in teens:
• apathy
• complaints of pains, including headaches, stomachaches, low back pain, or fatigue
• difficulty concentrating
• difficulty making decisions
• excessive or inappropriate guilt
• irresponsible behavior -- for example, forgetting obligations, being late for classes, skipping school
• loss of interest in food or compulsive overeating that results in rapid weight loss or gain
• memory loss
• preoccupation with death and dying
• rebellious behavior
• sadness, anxiety, or a feeling of hopelessness
• staying awake at night and sleeping during the day
• sudden drop in grades
• use of alcohol or drugs and promiscuous sexual activity
• withdrawal from friends
Any parent concerned that their teen is showing one or more of the aforementioned symptoms of depression in teens should contact a trained specialist who can offer a concrete diagnosis on the matter. The key thing to remember, however, is that teen depression is a very treatable, very manageable condition when you notice the symptoms of depression in teens. So long as there is a will, finding a way to medicate a depressed teenager (or provide them with talk therapy/natural remedies) is the easy part.
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