Contents:
- Medical Video: Teen Depression & Suicide: Facebook Live Web Chat
- In fact, being a teenager is not as easy as it seems
- Why are teenagers depressed?
- What are the characteristics of adolescents experiencing depression?
- Distinguishes depression in adolescents and ordinary feelings of sadness
- What parents should do to help depressed teens
- How to prevent depression in adolescents
Medical Video: Teen Depression & Suicide: Facebook Live Web Chat
Adolescence does look fun, because in those days you don't need to think about bills, jobs, and so on. In adolescence, you may spend more time in school and playing with friends. However, do you know if teenagers are prone to depression?
In fact, being a teenager is not as easy as it seems
As a transition period from the early days of children to early adulthood, adolescence is not uncommon to be a difficult time for adolescents. Emotionally immature, they tend to rebel at what they dislike or approve - so they often experience emotional turmoil.
Why are teenagers depressed?
Social life, such as family relationships, friendships, romance or academic problems in school often makes teenagers feel depressed. In fact, this can be a mild source of stress for adolescents - which if left unchecked can last a long time and cause depression. Some factors that can cause depression in adolescents include:
- Genetic factors
- Hormonal changes
- Biological factors, depression due to biological factors occur if neurotransmitter which is a natural brain chemical disrupted
- Trauma that occurs during childhood, such as physical or emotional abuse, loses parents
- Negative thinking habits
What are the characteristics of adolescents experiencing depression?
When adolescents experience depression, teenagers will lose motivation and enthusiasm in doing daily activities, even for what he likes. They will also be alone, confining themselves in the room for some time to calm their thoughts and feelings.
Adolescents who are depressed will also lose appetite, difficulty sleeping, difficulty in concentration, difficulty remembering, apathy, feeling sad, anxious, hopeless, tend to do negative things, even have the desire to commit suicide.
Distinguishes depression in adolescents and ordinary feelings of sadness
Feelings of sadness, disappointment, or despair are natural things experienced by adolescents, and does not mean the teenager is suffering from depression. So to distinguish between feelings of sadness and depression, we must invite them to talk, to find out whether they are able or unable to manage their feelings.
However, if the feeling of sadness lasts a long time or starts to interfere with the life of a teenager, then go to the doctor to find out the real situation and the right treatment.
What parents should do to help depressed teens
- Learn about depression. The first step is to study depression to help you find out about signs or symptoms, treatment, and care for children who are depressed.
- Watch for signs or warnings. Once you know about the symptoms of depression, you need to be more sensitive to what your child is showing you - both his feelings and behavior. Knowing the signs of depression earlier can reduce the risk of a worse depression.
- Communication with children. When you see your child having signs of depression, try to get your child to communicate to find out what your child is feeling and thinking about. This makes your child feel not alone in experiencing difficult times.
- Help your child through difficult times. When your child has depression, your child will experience some symptoms that interfere with daily activities. Therefore, you must help your child through difficult times, one of which is to help your child behave in a healthy life - which can reduce depression.
- Follow treatment and care regularly. You also have to make sure your child is taking medication and care from a doctor - including ensuring that your child is taking medication recommended by a doctor.
How to prevent depression in adolescents
Some ways that teenagers can do to prevent depression are as follows:
- Maintain friendships. Positive friendships can make teens confident and help them stay connected to their environment.
- Stay active. School activities or work or exercise can make you focus on positive things - so you avoid focusing on negative things.
- Positive thinking. With positive thinking, friends will avoid negative thoughts that will make them sad or disappointed.
