Differences Between Teen Depression and Regular Angst
Differences Between Teen Depression and Regular Angst
Adolescence produces a tidal wave of emotions motivated by raging hormones–it only makes sense that sometimes those can get a bit mixed up and lead to something more than just teen angst. Teen depression can cause symptoms that may resemble infamous teenage behavior, but are actually something much more worrying. Telling the difference between the two and getting treatment as fast as possible can be the critical factor in your teen’s successful transition into adulthood.Parents too eager to fix problems
According to data, depression has actually been rising in the past years among adolescents. This is troubling because suicide remains the second leading cause of death for that age range. Some pediatricians believe this can be helped through parenting advice because many believe the reason for it has to do with a confusion between teen depression symptoms and teen angst. The head of the division of child and adolescent psychology at NorthShore University Health System, Dr. Benjamin Shain, believes parents are too eager to try and solve problems for their children. Instead of allowing them the room to work through their feelings and come to a solution, many parents just step in and fix it–but this doesn’t help in the long run. This just creates dependency and issues when dealing with obstacles in life. Shain suggests that parents should mainly listen when their child is struggling and only after listening should they offer an amount of guidance that inspires problem solving. Not to mention, as of the year 2020, there is a pandemic on this rise. Covid-19 not only affects people physically, but also mentally. As one article published by a postgraduate medical education and research institution states that Depressive and anxiety symptoms have been reported in 16–28% of subjects screened. That being said, there could be a one in four chance that your teen is experiencing depression.Regular mood swings vs depression
Many adolescents struggle for years without anyone noticing because parents assume it’s just a “teenager thing.” No, identifying depression in teens won’t make it disappear, but it will allow your teen the opportunity to get better. There’s no perfect guidebook for parenting, so it can be difficult to read the signs of teen depression when teenagers are already so volatile. Some signs of teen depression include:- Mood swings
- Persistent irritability or sadness
- Sudden fall in school performance
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns
- Issues concentrating
- Alcohol/substance abuse
Equinox helps with depression in boys
Equinox RTC is a residential treatment center for teen boys, ages 14 – 18. Our students often grapple with teen depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, drug use, and other behavioral or emotional issues. We strive to help students develop healthy habits and lead themselves back onto a path of success through meaningful therapy and a nurturing environment. At Equinox, teenagers work towards building accountability, respect, and a solution-oriented approach to solving their challenges. For more information about treating teen depression at Equinox, contact us today at (877) 279-8925
