Depression is no walk in the park. The intense feelings of sadness and lack of motivation can be difficult terrain for even the wisest individual to navigate. Well. imagine having to wallow through the turmoil of depression while also having to deal with all of the drama of adolescence. Bullying, trying to fit in, school, peer pressure, and puberty, all while feeling depressed? It is an incredibly difficult road to walk, and that is why Synergy Research Centers offers adolescent depression treatment at our Lemon Grove locations. In the meantime, investigate how depression will affect adolescents and when to see a doctor.
The Symptoms of Adolescent Depression
If your child is depressed during adolescence, they will seemingly transform into a completely different person. The thoughts, feelings, and actions closely associated with your teenager will disappear, replaced by a completely new set of emotions and behaviors. Symptoms vary in how intense or severe they are, but here are some of the most common emotional and behavioral changes that come with adolescent depression.
Emotional Changes
Be on the lookout for some of these emotional changes in your adolescent child:
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Constantly irritable and in an annoyed mood
- Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness
- Getting frustrated and angry over even the slightest matters
- Feeling extremely sensitive about failure and a need for reassurance
- Loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy, friends, and family
- Extreme sadness and crying
- Issues concentrating and remembering things
- A bleak outlook on their future and life in general
Behavioral Changes
While emotions can be difficult to quantify, behavioral changes are more cut and dry. Here are some of the behavioral changes that may be a warning sign that your adolescent is depressed:
- A lack of energy and constantly being tired
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Use of drugs and alcohol
- A drastic change in appetite, either being hungry all the time and never eating
- A weight gain or loss
- A constant feeling of restlessness
- Complaining of aches, pains, headaches, and other body issues
- Neglecting their appearance
- Frequent isolation from friends and family
- Outbursts of emotion and acting-out
- Self-harm
- Poor performance in school
When to See a Doctor
Adolescence and puberty can be difficult for all children. Part of the influx of hormones that come with puberty is a teenager acting out and drastically changing the way they think and act. However, adolescent depression is more serious than the standard behavioral and emotional changes that come with puberty, so it is important to talk to your child in a non-confrontational way if you are concerned about their well being.
If you are seriously concerned about the physical and emotional wellness of your child, contact a doctor immediately. When it comes to mental health, never hesitate to get your child the help they need. The sooner you can get your child to a mental health professional, the better their long-term outlook will be. Seek treatment for adolescent depression as soon as you see symptoms of the disorder.
Free Adolescent Depression Treatment in San Diego
If you live in San Diego and have an adolescent struggling with depression, bring them to Synergy Research Centers. With locations in Lemon Grove, we can help treat adolescent depression with the latest treatment techniques in our clinical trials. If you are interested in learning more about adolescent depression clinical research trials, contact Synergy Research Centers today. Give us a call at (888) 539-0282.