Parenting teenagers is challenging, and with increased awareness surrounding the mental health of teens, many parents may be more attuned to the possibility of their team meeting some additional support for their mental and emotional health. But sometimes, the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental and emotional health concerns may not fit the standard symptoms. And many times, teens may not have the language or awareness of their symptoms to specifically ask for help.

This can leave many parents wondering whether their teen may be struggling with anxiety or depression and unsure of what the correct response may be.

Today we will discuss five signs that your teen may be struggling with depression. Keep in mind, that mental health concerns can vary in the presentation of symptoms. The information below is simply a starting point or basic observation point for parents who may be concerned about mental health in the life of their teen. If in doubt, it is always best practice to consult with a mental health professional for further assistance in sorting out the details of your individual concerns.

Five signs to look for in teen depression:

An increase in negative self-talk:

Depression is often associated with negative perceptions of self, feelings of hopelessness, negative thought patterns, and an overall feeling of hopelessness. It is a normal part of teenage development that teens tend to focus on themselves and compare themselves with peers. When depression challenges are combined with normal teenage development and critique of self, a natural occurrence that may happen is a significant increase in negative self-talk and challenges with self-esteem.

It is normal for teens to be critical of themselves, participate in self-deprecating humor, and have challenges with self is acceptance; however, if your teen struggles to be able to identify any positive attribute about themselves, does not believe in hopeful things for their future, or tends to be fixated on or consumed with negative thoughts of themselves, this may be an early indicator that teens may be struggling with depression.

Changes in eating patterns:

As discussed in previous blogs, changes in eating patterns are often observed in depressive episodes, and changes in eating patterns may be associated with early warning signs of a depressive episode occurring. Certainly, teens may have fluctuations in the amount of food that they eat, but if you notice significant changes in your child’s appetite, be it an increase or a decrease, it may be time to have a conversation with your teen about how they are feeling. Additionally, if behavioral patterns related to hiding food, discrete food consumption, or secrecy around eating patterns occur, this may be an additional sign to pause and ask a few more questions.

Read more about depression and eating patterns here.

Changes in sleeping patterns:

Yes, we understand that teenagers are notorious for staying up all night and sleeping all day. And a natural part of teenage development includes the increased need for sleep and a natural shift towards a later wake-up time. But changes and sleep patterns can also be early warning signs for a depressive episode. So if you notice major changes in your teen’s sleeping patterns. If you observe or they report the inability to fall asleep or only record a few hours of sleep, or appear to be sleeping far beyond what would be considered their normal nights rest, these may be signs of depression.

Read more about depression and sleep patterns here.

Changes in social activity level:

The social life of a teenager is a challenging space. in healthy team development, we desire for teenagers to be connecting with their peers, spend time with friends, and develop strong satisfying relationships. So if you have noticed your teen changing their patterns and social connection, spending more time alone, or turning down offers to connect with friends that previously would have been excepted, these may be signs or symptoms that isolation/ social withdrawal, a symptom of depression, may be occurring.

Losing interest and previously important things:

Have you noticed grades slipping, the desire to quit sports or activities, or lost interest in art, games, or other activities or interest that your teen used to enjoy? Lack of motivation and decreased enjoyment related to elements of life that were previously satisfying is another symptom of the depression experience.

Many times these symptoms of depression can appear to be elements of irresponsibility, like failing to turn in homework, poor grades, laziness in sports practice, and failure to complete chores, but before assuming rebellion, it may be worth considering if the symptoms and behavioral patterns that you were seeing could be the product of underlying depression.

These are five areas to consider when addressing depression in teens. It’s important to note that one single set of symptoms is not an indication of depression, but if you are starting to see trends in several of these areas discussed above, it may be time to consult with a mental health professional to see if additional teen therapy, depression treatment, or other supports may help your teen to manage whatever challenges they may be facing and equip them to be their healthiest and happy selves.

If you are looking for teen therapy our team would love to help. We offer teen therapy online for all Texas residents through online therapy options, and in person for residents of the DFW area in our Arlington Texas-based therapy group. Our therapists are trained to address depression therapy, anxiety therapy, trauma therapy, addiction counseling, and more.

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