Don't ignore teen depression, it's important to recognize the early signs
In recent years, mental health, especially the mental health of young people, has been paid more and more attention.
Adolescents are in a critical period of growth and development, social and emotional development. Changes in the physical, psychological and social environment easily lead to the occurrence of depression in adolescents.
The increasing social pressure and competition also increase the risk of depression. To deal with adolescent depression, we need to start from understanding and early identification.
Here are the early signs of teen depression.
- Feeling down
Prolonged low mood, feeling depressed or sad, difficulty experiencing happiness.
- Waning interest
They lose interest in daily activities, things they used to be interested in (such as sports, socializing, games, hobbies, etc.) no longer attract them, and they lose motivation and enthusiasm to participate.
- You lose energy
- Dramatic mood swings
Adolescents have more dramatic mood swings than adults, often abruptly changing from happy to depressed or angry. While mood changes can be hormonal, persistent low mood or anger can be a sign of depression. In addition, the symptoms of adolescent depression are often manifested as anger, hostility and other external emotions.
- Low self-evaluation
They frequently show low self-esteem or disappointment in themselves, think that they can't do things well, and even lose confidence in the future, tend to think negatively and pessimisticism when thinking about problems, often feel hopeless, and may even talk about death or suicide.
- Hypersensitivity
They are very sensitive to external evaluation or peer opinion, and are easy to feel ignored and excluded, which worsens feelings of inferiority and loneliness.
- Decreased concentration
It is often difficult to concentrate, feeling foggy when studying or working, and completing tasks becomes difficult.
- Decreased motivation to learn
During the illness, adolescents often experience slower thinking, difficulty concentrating, and a marked decline in memory. This decline in cognitive function directly affects their learning performance, leading to a decline in grades, frequent truancy, and even a complete loss of motivation for learning.
- Rebellious behavior
Adolescents with depression often relieve their inner pressure by rebelling, defying parents and teachers. As stress intensifies, some teens may further seek extreme ways to escape their pain, such as abusing drugs, alcohol, or even engaging in other risky activities.
- Internet addiction
Indulging in social media, video games, video and other online activities for a long time to escape the difficulties and pressures in reality through the virtual world.
- Sleep and diet changes
Early waking, insomnia or lethargy, decreased appetite or overeating may occur.
- Shirking responsibility or reducing involvement
Unwilling to communicate with family and friends, avoid social activities, reduce participation in daily activities such as family and school, and even give up school or other important tasks.
- Physical symptoms
Physical discomfort that has no physical cause, such as headache or stomachache.
- Repeated self-harm
Repeated scratches, cuts, burns, and injuries not consistent with common accidental causes. At the same time, adolescents often avoid allowing others to see the signs of self-harm, choosing to wear long sleeves, pants or in an inconspicuous place to self-harm.
- Suicide
Talk directly about death or suicide, go from extreme depression to sudden emotional calm, distance yourself from others, research methods, places and tools of suicide, and carry out suicide plans.
In the face of these signs, parents and teachers need to keep a keen eye on the emotional and behavioral changes of teenagers. If it is found that teenagers have long-term emotional and behavioral abnormalities, they should take a positive attitude and gently ask them about their feelings and thoughts.
If psychological problems have affected life and study, parents should take their children to a psychiatric clinic for the first time, rather than seeking the help of psychological counselors.
Psychiatrists are the best choice for patients seeking outside help in the early stages of illness. The doctor will conduct a series of examinations and assessments for the patient to comprehensively determine whether the patient is depressed or depressed, and then decide the follow-up treatment plan, whether it is simple psychological treatment or other treatment.
The treatment of adolescent depression is a long-term and comprehensive process, which requires the participation of hospitals, families and schools.
Treatment is important, but the follow-up psychological support and environmental adjustment can not be ignored, only in this way can effectively prevent the recurrence of the disease, to help children out of the psychological haze.
