Understanding teenage depression is very difficult for many parents and other adults to accomplish.  It is not that the signs of teenage depression are that difficult, but many adults fail to have to

ability to distinguish signs of depression from those of unhappiness.  The teenage years are very difficult ones, and though most teenagers are able to balance occasional sadness and despair with good friends, success in school, and a sense of self-worth, depression falls into a different category.  When a teen is depressed, it can change the very essence of his or her personality leading to a deep sense of sadness, despair or even extreme anger.  Today teenage depression is becoming more common than at any time in the past but whether it’s because there are more instances of teenage depression or the public is becoming more aware of it remains a mystery.

In spite of the fact that depression is treatable, statistics reveal that only twenty per cent of teenagers suffering from depression ever receive the help they need. Where adults have the ability to seek professional help on their own, teenagers usually, depend on the adults in their lives to recognize the signs of teenage depression and help them obtain the help that is necessary.  Therefore, any adult who interacts with teenagers needs to know the signs of depression in order to spot the warning signs before it is too late.  Many cases of teenage suicide are the direct result of parents, teachers, and other adults failing to have the knowledge to separate depression from sadness.

In the 21st century teenagers face a great deal of pressures about puberty and where they fit in. This transition from child to adult tends to cause parental conflicts as teens begin to seek their independence.  With so much drama, it can often be difficult to tell the difference between depression and the normal moodiness that is part of a teenager’s transition to adulthood.  It becomes even more difficult when a teen does not appear sad but instead is irritable, aggressive, and enraged—not signs that most people recognize as depression.

One thing that people may fail to recognize is that depression in teenagers can manifest itself in different ways from that of adults.  Some symptoms more common in teenagers than adults may include the following:

• Anger and/or irritability are the common moods predominant in depressed teenagers. Grumpiness, hostility, frustration and outbursts of anger are also very common in depressed teenagers.
• A depressed teenager may also complain frequently about headaches, stomachaches and other physical ailments.  If no physical cause can be found, these complaints are more than likely due to depression.
• Depressed teens often feel worthless which makes them for sensitive to criticism, rejection and even failure.  This is especially prominent in over-achievers.
• Depressed teenagers will not withdraw from all people.  They tend to keep some friendships, may withdraw from their parents, socialize less or hang out with different friends than they had previously.

Although teen suicide is of concern with depressed teenagers, other problems can manifest themselves if the condition is not treated.  If teenage depression is not treated, it can cause any of the following to occur:

• Because depression can cause a lack of energy and difficulty concentrating, a teen may have problems in school including poor attendance, lower grades or frustration in completing schoolwork for a previously good student.
• The teen may run away or talk about running away.  This should be viewed as a request for help.
• Use of alcohol or drugs
• Intensified feelings of worthlessness
• Development of anorexia, bulimia and other types of eating disorders
• Addition to the internet in order to escape real life problems
• Inflicting injury upon themselves
• Exhibition of risky behavior such as driving recklessly, drinking excessively and engaging in unsafe sex
• Violent behavior (more common in boys who have been subjected to bullying)
• Thinking, speaking or attempting suicide in order to get attention. Any thoughts or behaviors of a suicidal nature should be taken seriously.

Postpartum depression is one of the most common forms of depression yet one that is easily overlooked by many doctors and patients alike. Because the signs of postpartum depression are similar to those of what we know as “baby blues,” many women fail to get treatment because they feel the condition will go away in time.  The new mother may also feel embarrassed and feel that she must work through this condition that is preventing her from bonding with the baby.  These warning signs of depression will not vanish unless a proper diagnosis is made and a treatment plan is in place.

Postpartum depression varies in severity and has nothing to do with the age of the mother, how many children she has had previously or how well she took care of herself during pregnancy. Anyone of any age can develop postpartum depression although many people mistakenly think it only affects first time mothers. Some cases of post partum depression may mimic signs of clinical depression and in some ways they are similar. A woman suffering from postpartum depression may exhibit any number of the following signs:

• Restlessness and irritability
• Sadness or frequent crying spells
• Lack of energy
• Physical symptoms such as headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations, numbness or hyperventilation
• Inability to sleep and/or being very tired
• Losing weight due to inability to eat
• Gaining weight due to overeating
• Difficulty focusing, remembering or making a decision
• Worrying excessively about the baby
• Lack of interest in the baby
• Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
• Fear of hurting yourself or the baby
• Lack of interest or pleasure in activities that may include sex

There is no known cause for postpartum depression though it is suspected that the signs of postpartum depression may develop because of a drastic drop in the hormone level after childbirth. During pregnancy there is a marked increase in both estrogen and progesterone but shortly after childbirth the levels of these hormones drop remarkably and continue to drop until they reach pre-pregnancy levels.  Researchers believe these hormonal changes may be the reason some women exhibit signs of clinical depression following childbirth in much the same way the smaller hormonal changes that occur before the menstrual period affect a woman’s moods.

Another possibility is a sharp drop in thyroid levels after childbirth may trigger depression.  Low levels in the thyroid can cause the presentation of warning signs of depression such as moodiness, fatigue, agitation, sleep disorders, and anxiety.  If the thyroid levels are causing a woman’s postpartum depression, a physician can prescribe thyroid medication to alleviate the problem.

In addition to reduced hormone levels and low thyroid here are other factors that have a contributory role in postpartum depression. Some of the most common contributing factors include the following:

• Being tired following childbirth, sleep patterns that are broken, and insufficient rest prevents a new mother from regaining her strength for several weeks. This is particularly true if the birth was a cesarean.

• The mother may feel overwhelmed by a new or another baby and have doubts about being a good mother.

• Changes in both home and work schedules may cause stress.  Sometimes women tend to feel they need to be perfect and be able to do everything.  This unrealistic expectation can create additional stress.

• Feelings of loss may also create an environment for postpartum depression.  This may include loss of identity, loss of control, loss of a pre-pregnancy figure, and feeling unattractive.

• There may also be resentment over having less free time, having to stay inside more, and having less time to spend with your partner.

Before you can identify the signs of clinical depression it’s important to understand what the term means.  Many people may suffer from depression, but clinical depression means there is something missing or low in supply in your body that prevents you from being happy.  One of the most common ingredients is lithium but it is certainly not the only one that contributes to depression.  When the doctor discovers you suffer from clinical depression, the course of treatment is the replacement of those substances that are missing or under the required quantity.

Depression whether clinical or not can be very difficult to diagnose because the symptoms of depression may be the same as those experienced from just being temporarily unhappy because of circumstances or incidents.  What usually triggers a depressed person or his or her loved ones is the length of time symptoms remain. There is not a person who has not suffered from extreme sadness at some time during his or her life such as the end of a relationship or loss of a loved one, but when the sadness continues beyond a reasonable period of time, it may not be sadness but depression.  With clinical depression, however, it is not usually the result of a sad event, though the stress of such an incident may cause an increase in the depressive state.

One of the most important parts of treating clinical depression is being able to recognize the symptoms.  That doesn’t mean that the existence of any of these symptoms means one is suffering from clinical depression, but it does mean that there is a need to seek professional counseling. When trying to determine if a friend or loved one is suffering from clinical depression, you will need to look for these signs of clinical depression before you take any action:

• Decreased concentration
• Lack of ability to experience pleasure
• Increased negativity toward one’s self
• Inability to fall asleep or stay asleep
• Feeling of fatigue even after sleeping for twelve hours
• Decreased appetite or loss of taste for food
• Feeling guilty, helpless or hopeless
• Suicidal thoughts
• Isolating yourself from others
• Lowering your standards or missing deadlines
• Personality changes
• Increase in sexual activity to the point of promiscuity
• Increasing your use of alcohol or drugs

Although experiencing some of these symptoms of depression does not mean you are suffering from clinical depression, it should open your eyes to the possibility of depression.  Having some of the symptoms for a short time is no trigger, but it is important to monitor how you feel and report it to your doctor.  Many people have a problem seeing a mental health professional or even talking to their primary care physician about their mental health, but there is no way to treat your depression if you don’t talk about it.  Clinical depression is a medical condition that you can treat with medication—you would not hesitate to take medication for your allergies nor should you feel hesitant to take medication for clinical depression.

Depression is a very serious condition that can be debilitating to the sufferer if it is not treated.  It is essential for even the average person to know the warning signs of depression in order to recognize it in a friend or relative.

That does not mean that everyone should be experienced in recognizing depression signs, but they should have enough knowledge to be able to make a logical decision about whether a loved one needs help with depression or is just going through a temporary period of sadness.

The symptoms of depression will vary from one person to another, especially if the sufferer is a teenager.  While adults will usually exhibit sadness, teenagers will usually show anger or aggressiveness.  The depression signs a person will exhibit will also depend on the level of the depressive state.  At the same time the level of depression can change within a matter of minutes when triggered by certain situations.  If a friend or family member exhibits unusual behavior that may possibly be depression, there must be someone available to help determine if there is a need to consult a mental health professional.

The warning signs of depression can and do vary with the severity of the condition.  The most common symptoms of major depression include the following:

• No interest in your regular daily routine
• A feeling of sadness
• A feeling of hopelessness
• Crying for no reason
• Sleep disorders
• Having difficulty making decisions
• Weight gain or loss without trying
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Becoming annoyed easily
• Experiencing fatigue or weakness
• Feeling of worthlessness
• Lack of interest in sex
• Suicidal thoughts or behavior
• Physical problems without a medical cause such as headaches or back pain

Quite often people do not equate physical symptoms with depression. It is very common for one to understand that the symptoms of depression may include things such as feeling sad and being unable to sleep or concentrate, but it is rare for people to think that depression can cause physical symptoms.  For a new mother these symptoms may be signs of postpartum depression.  In addition, other symptoms such as restlessness and irritability are often blamed on stress or lack of sleep instead of looking to the possibility of depression.  It is not from lack of knowledge because sources are available that allow us to compare our symptoms to those of depression in order to discover whether there is a need for a mental health professional to become involved.

Depression can be very difficult to recognize yet it is becoming more common than it has in the past.  Whether it is the result of more stress in our lifestyles or more people recognizing it and seeking treatment for depression is difficult to determine.  However, there is no doubt teenage depression is on the increase with teenage suicide being one of the most common causes of death among young people 15-24 years old.

Many warning signs go unheeded by those suffering from depression because they are afraid to seek help.  This is especially true of those who are showing signs of postpartum depression.  Whether it is from fear or simply lack of knowledge is the question.  Some people have a fear they will lose their jobs or families if they admit to suffering from depression.  Treatment for depression is so readily available that one does not have to worry about others finding out with today’s privacy laws.  It is essential for everyone to understand how easy it is to relieve depression with the right medication and treatment plan.

Depression can sometimes be difficult to recognize by those who are not in the medical profession because it often shows itself in many ways that a layperson does not equate with depression.

The signs and symptoms of depression will vary in each person with some people exhibiting many different depression signs while others may only show one of the signs of depression.  This variation among those patients showing an overt amount of sadness makes it difficult for an ordinary person to distinguish depression from unhappiness.

There are many different signs and symptoms of depression, but it is important for family and close friends to have the ability to not necessarily have the medical expertise to know when a loved one is suffering from depression rather than temporary unhappiness but to know enough about the condition to recognize it.  Some of the most common signs of major depression include the following:

• Extreme sadness and crying over minor incidents
• A marked increase in irritability, crankiness, and inability to find satisfaction
• A person will become frustrated more easily and give up easier when a first attempt fails
• Poor concept of oneself, low self-esteem, and being reluctant about trying something new
• Lack of interest in things that a person previously enjoyed
• Increase or decrease in appetite that triggers rapid weight loss or weight gain.  A decrease in appetite is more common.
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Actions that are slow or inhibited
• Extreme fatigue
• Inability to concentrate or decrease in attention span or memory
• Thinking or talking about death or suicide

Although these signs are directed more toward the person who is showing major depression signs that does not mean that, you should overlook any variation of these signs.  Even someone exhibiting signs of teenage depression can quickly slip from mild depression to major depression in just a matter of seconds.  That does not mean you need to watch a depressed person all hours of the day and night, but you have to be cognizant about their behavior.

There is no single cause of depression, although it can be triggered by stressful situations in those people what are prone to depression.  It tends to run in families, so if you have a family member that suffers from depression, it is quite possible you may be prone to depression.  That does not mean that everyone who has a depressed family member will become a victim of depression, but they certain have an increased risk of predisposal to the condition.

Those who are inclined to exhibit signs of depression are certainly able to control it with counseling, medication or a combination of both. How a person responds to treatment is an individual thing and may be different for people in the same household just as the symptoms may be different for each person.  There is no set rule on how each person will respond to depression any more than the same treatment plan will work the same for each person.  This is the reason why it is so essential for a person to seek the assistance of a mental health professional if they experience extreme sadness for a long period of time.

Anyone who suspects he or she may be suffering from depression should seek professional help.  The longer you wait the more difficult it will be to treat.  In addition, it is important to learn to recognize the difference between depression and sadness.  Everyone exhibits some symptoms that may appear to be depression but only a professional can diagnose and treat depression in adults or those showing signs of teenage depression.