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Why are teens so depressed


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HOW TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR TEENAGER IS DEPRESSED

14 August 2020 10:08

Views: 13807

The teenage years are often a very difficult time for children and their parents. This period is very important for mental well-being. Let's figure out what features of a teenager's behavior you should pay attention to and when to see a doctor.

People of all ages experience sadness, irritability, or low energy from time to time. Such feelings are considered normal, but if the negative does not disappear and does not weaken for a long time, this is a reason to contact a specialist. In the case of a child, this condition can mean depression. It is treatable, but it is not always easy to recognize even a specialist. nine0004

How serious is this in general?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is one of the leading causes of morbidity and disability among adolescents worldwide, with about 10-20% of them experiencing mental health problems but not being diagnosed and treated.

Who is at risk?

The reasons for the development of depression in adolescents are different and are determined individually in each specific situation. A person is made vulnerable by emotional, social, as well as physical factors: violence and abuse, social status among peers, family well-being, school or university performance. nine0004

Some teenagers are at higher risk for depression. This problem concerns children with chronic diseases or other neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders. At risk are adolescents who have become parents or entered into early marriage, as well as ethnic minorities.

Maybe my child is just lazy and doesn't want to do anything? Or just upset? How to understand that he is really bad? nine0004

Depression is not a condition that can be overcome by willpower. This is a persistent lack of interest in any activity, which is accompanied by a feeling of sadness. Often, this condition can cause suicidal thoughts, sleep and wake disturbances, and even physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach pains, and a constant feeling of fatigue. It may seem that a person is lazy, does not want to do anything, in fact, he will be in a state of apathy, which is one of the symptoms of depression. nine0004

Very often, depression is disguised as mood swings, and sometimes the teenager himself does not make contact, isolates himself from family and friends and does not want to talk about his mood. Such a condition should not be ignored, because it can result in serious consequences - antisocial behavior or in the worst case, for example, a suicide attempt.

You should not immediately try on labels on a teenager, because he may be sick, which is why it is so important to be aware of the symptoms of depression and communicate with your child. Gently bring him to the conversation, position him towards you, let him know that you are on his side and you care. Start a conversation with these phrases: nine0004

1. "Let's talk to you about this, it's important to me."

2. "Let's think about how we can solve this problem."

3. "You mean a lot to me, I'm worried about your condition."

What should you pay attention to?

First and most importantly, depression can manifest itself in different ways in different children and it does not proceed in the same way as in adults. Adults with depressive disorder are more likely to experience sadness, children and adolescents behave angry and irritable. Also, a sharp decline in grades at school often begins, changes in normal behavior are observed. Here are some wake-up calls: nine0004

defiant, reckless behavior, abrupt changes in behavior;

· irritability and anger;

Complaints of pain in the head or abdomen;

insomnia or, conversely, too much sleep;

fatigue, lack of energy;

decrease in appetite, loss or, conversely, a set of overweight;

· anxiety; nine0004

reduced physical activity;

Difficulties in making decisions;

Lack of concentration

Feelings of guilt or worthlessness

Thoughts of death or suicide;

aloof behavior

The use of psychoactive substances, alcohol;

the child cries for no reason;

increased sensitivity to criticism; nine0004

feeling of hopelessness and helplessness.

Which doctor treats depression?

Depressive disorders are dealt with by psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and sometimes psychologists. Unlike SARS, which in most cases can be dealt with on your own at home, depression requires mandatory monitoring by a doctor, since the causes of the disease are different. Hence the different treatments.

As a rule, adolescents are prescribed medication, psychotherapy, and are also given recommendations for changing their lifestyle. Normalization of sleep and wakefulness, sports, balanced nutrition - all these simple things can really do their bit in the fight against depressive disorder. nine0004

How long will the treatment last?

Overcoming depression can take time, in this regard, unfortunately, no guarantees can be made on the timing. According to this, treatment should be continued for 4-6 months after remission, as shorter periods lead to an increased risk of depression recurrence. Therefore, a teenager will need a lot of support. Remember, depressive disorders are treatable! This is not a life sentence, and a teenager will not be registered with a psychiatrist if he does not pose a threat to himself. nine0004

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Why teen depression is dangerous and how to prevent it

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Why teen depression is dangerous and how to prevent it

07/22/2020

© depositphotos.com

Depression is a dangerous psychological illness that can develop in a child as they grow up. At this point, it is very important to notice the first signs: if treatment is not started on time, the disease can develop into a chronic form and manifest itself already in adulthood with more severe consequences. Why parents should be more attentive to the psychological state of the child and how to prevent teenage depression, employees ANO "CISM" told psychologist and advisory member of the Professional Psychotherapeutic League Elena Pavlova .

– By what signs can one understand that a child has depression?

- The first sign of depression in adolescents is lethargy, apathy, refusal of any entertainment and a decrease in school performance. Often, in response to a child's loss of interest in school, parents begin to put pressure on him and criticize him, trying to force him to study. This is not true, because here you need to try to find out the reason why this happens. There is also the opposite effect: some children use study as a way to “escape” from themselves and their problems, on the contrary, academic performance increases, and parents do not take this into account, rejoicing at the success of the child. nine0004

When any problems arise, a person always starts to behave differently than before. Accordingly, with depression, for example, you want to lie down all day, doing nothing. Adults interpret this as a sign of relaxation and begin to swear. Also, one of the signs of depression is insomnia, in adolescents it most often takes certain forms: the child does not sleep, spends the whole night at the computer or on a smartphone. Such a downed regime is perceived by parents as sabotage. nine0004

The next sign is a violation of appetite and eating habits. This is also worth paying attention to. Another marker is the loss of interest in the usual activities, in communication with peers. And, of course, the most inconspicuous symptoms that only the child himself feels are depressive thoughts, a feeling of longing, a constant state of anxiety and fear, a negative perception of himself and others. Parents can notice this only when a teenager begins to ask some unusual questions for him, for example, about life and death. Here you don’t need to dismiss it and call it “nonsense”, you need to try to find out why the child became interested in this topic, why he had such thoughts and what they are connected with. nine0004

- Why do teenagers get depressed? Which children are at risk?

- According to WHO statistics, in Russia about 11% of boys and girls under the age of 18 suffer from depression. That is, this is every tenth teenager, but the statistics include only those cases that have been registered, respectively, this figure can be much higher. Unfortunately, most often depression during puberty is left without the attention of others: parents often ignore the symptoms that are obvious to specialists, or take them for whims or age-related changes in character, so the only thing they resort to to combat this state of a teenager is moralizing or even punishment. . nine0004

Crises during adolescence are inevitable, as physical changes and a hormonal explosion occur in the body of children, which gives rise to emotional instability. During this period, the child begins to overestimate life attitudes, his character and ways of social interaction with others change. At this stage, parents should in no case show pressure, the teenager needs to be supported, shown love and understanding. After all, in addition to the internal processes that concern him, pressure is also increasing from the outside: from teachers at school, from friends; first experience of relationships with the opposite sex. In addition to everything, self-doubt can become. All of these factors can lead a child into a state of depression if he does not feel supported by the family. nine0004

In addition, depression can also be hereditary. But more often the reason is the environment in which the teenager is located: what kind of relationship he has with his parents, how much he is accepted and loved, how comfortable he feels in the family, how successful he is in this or that activity.

- Today's youth are more likely to suffer from depression than past generations. Is this true? Why is there such a trend?

– Today's teenagers suffer from depression much more often than their predecessors. This is due to the fact that now an unlimited flow of information is directed at children, they receive it from a huge number of sources, and it is far from always positive. Adolescents are very suspicious during the period of growing up, and are often ready to believe everything they write and say on social networks. In addition, teenage self-doubt gives rise to a desire to compare their lives with the “beautiful” life dictated by social networks. The addition is the constant communication on the Internet, which makes children feel lonely in real life. That is why modern youth is more susceptible to the development of severe psychological conditions. And parents need to teach the child to interact with the world from childhood, try to build trusting relationships with him so that he is not afraid to tell mom and dad about his problems and experiences. nine0004

- How to help a teenager get rid of depression? What are the consequences if therapy is not started on time?

- A teenager in depression is initially worse than an adult, because he has not yet developed the usual ways to protect his psyche and is not able to ignore what is happening to him, he still lacks the skills of emotional self-regulation. Very often, teenagers feel shame and guilt for their condition, this can manifest itself through aggression. They are hurt, but ashamed to cry and complain, and they express it as best they can. Therefore, most often an aggressive teenager is an unhappy teenager. These children need help first and foremost, not education. And if it is not provided in time, during puberty, over time, depression will manifest itself in a more severe form. Therefore, early intervention directly affects the course of the disease in the future. nine0004

- How to persuade a teenager to visit a psychotherapist or psychologist?

- If parents have found symptoms of depression in a child, there is no need to rush, you need to work carefully and start small. First of all, try to restore lost trust, show support, interest, offer help. At this point, you need to be completely on the side of the child. If depression has already taken a clinical form, then here you need to seek help from specialists. And as experience shows, the most effective tool in the fight against teenage depression is conversational practice, combined with the right drugs. nine0004

I must say right away that it is best for a parent to go to an appointment with a teenager. Only in this way the psychologist can properly consider the current situation. When you voice the idea to a child to go to a psychologist for a consultation, in order to convince him of the need for such a visit, you need to act according to a certain algorithm. First, in no case should you take a “must” position, speak with the child on an equal footing, as with an adult. Try to explain to him that right now you may not understand each other, but in spite of everything you love him and want to help. The second is to convey to the teenager that someone else is needed to resolve the current situation and offer to choose a specialist together. Thirdly, a parent can try to say that he himself wants to go to a psychologist in order to sort out the existing problems between him and the child, but explain that if he goes alone, the psychologist will not have the opportunity to hear two points of view. nine0004

If in the end these methods did not help convince a teenager, you can simply offer to go to the first appointment and say that if you don’t like it, you will no longer return to this topic. But in no case should you pressure, force, blackmail, threaten or make any excessive promises. It's taboo.

- What role do social networks and the Internet play in the formation of depression?

“According to researchers from the University of Montreal, social networks and TV programs have caused a decrease in self-esteem in adolescents and, as a result, a trigger for depression. In their opinion, television and social networks include content that presents the lives of other young people in a very positive way, forms an idea of ​​an ideal life. Adolescents unwittingly begin to compare themselves with those they see on social networks, turn out to be dissatisfied with the result, and this dissatisfaction becomes the cause of the development of a depressive state.

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