Is It More Than Moodiness? How to Tell If Your Teen Is Depressed

You've been waiting for these years to come. Your friends and family members warned you about this.

You knew how you raised your kids, and you thought that they'd be different. The thought of it didn't even worry you.

But now they've grown up, they're older, and those dreaded years have hit you before you may have been ready. The teenage years.

Your sweet, little baby is officially a teen, and they're not so little and sweet anymore. Instead, they seem to have been replaced with their polar opposite. They're moody, bitter, and angry. And they have little to no interest in hanging out with you, talking to you, or respecting you for that matter.

You're starting to wonder if there's a larger issue at hand. Is this more than just moodiness? Let's find out! This is how to tell if your teen is depressed.

Loss of Interest

One of the most obvious signs of depression is a loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed. If your teen stops attending practices, games, or shows, they may no longer be as invested in that activity. Maybe they're not as passionate or interested in that hobby anymore. Or maybe they're struggling with depression. If you're still not sure if your teen is dealing with depression, think about their friends and social calendar. They may be withdrawing from friends or self-isolating, too.

Changes in Eating and Sleeping Habits

Another pretty common sign that's shown in teens struggling with depression is changes in their sleeping and eating habits. One of two things could happen to a teen struggling with depression. Teens who are depressed will either spend more time in bed or have trouble falling and staying asleep. Similar to sleeping changes, a teen struggling with depression may also eat more or less compared to their normal eating habits.

Negative Mood

While most teens are deemed as moody, a constant negative mood can be a sign of depression. While adults who struggle with depression tend to appear sad or hopeless, your teen may appear to be easily angered, agitated, and irritable. In addition to having a negative mood, your teen may experience low self-esteem. This can bring on additional negative feelings of not being good enough, being ashamed of themselves, or feeling ugly or uncomfortable.

Problems at School

No matter if your teen didn't care about school or was a teacher's pet, a teen struggling with depression can make school challenging. Depression can make it difficult for someone to concentrate or have enough energy to pay attention in class or complete their assigned work or study requirements. This can lead to additional problems in the classroom, like missed assignments, bad grades, and poor attendance.

Reckless Behavior

Teens are more likely to act out, but teens who are struggling with depression are more likely to act out in the form of reckless or erratic behaviors. Substance use and abuse, reckless driving, unsafe sex, and bullying are common types of behaviors that a teen struggling with depression can partake in.

Next Steps

Depression is a serious mental health disorder. If you suspect your teen is struggling, it's important to seek help as soon as possible. If depression is left untreated, it can lead to worsening signs, symptoms, and other disorders. Let your teen know that you care about them and just want them to be safe, happy, and healthy. You can work with them to get them back on the right track again. You also don't have to go through this all on your own. We're here to help you and your teen. Reach out to me today to set up an initial consultation for teen therapy.