Common Symptoms of Teenage Depression

Common Symptoms of Teenage Depression

It is estimated that 20 percent of teenagers will experience depression before they reach adulthood.  There are certain signs and symptoms that teenagers show when they are battling depression, some more obvious than others.  I have a teenage son that battles depression, and recognizing the signs like his isolation, over-sleeping, were important is diagnosing him. There are other signs a teenager may show when going through depression.  Some of these signs are changes in appetite, changes in sleep, loss of interest in favorite activities, irritability as well as irrational responses to frustration and finally, statements of despair.   Recognizing these signs is very important to know the level of depression your teenager going through.


Change in appetite is a sure sign of adolescent depression.  The change may be in the form of eating too much or not eating enough, if at all, for long periods of time.  It should not be mistaken for an eating disorder though sometimes such symptoms could develop into an eating disorder.  This can especially if the patient starts to feel better following a change in diet.  This feeling can be misleading and seen as a form of therapy but is actually harmful.
Much like changes in diet, changes in sleep are also symptomatic of adolescent depression.  My son would sleep over 12 hours at a time while battling depression.   All teens love to sleep; however, a drastic change in sleep behavior that does not have any rational reason is what one should be looking for.
A reduction in favorite activities such as sports or hanging with friends is another sign to look.  This is another common adolescent depression symptom that can be easily noticeable.  It is not the same as when a child outgrows his or her likes for a particular activity.  If a child loves a sport and during the middle of the season suddenly decides to stop, there is a reason to be concerned and it could be a sign of adolescent depression.

Another sign of adolescent depression is when the teenager or child is easily angered, or often overreact when frustrated.   Many think this is a common teenage phase, as did I with my son.  They may become defiant as there is underlying depression they are dealing with, which they will then manifests in the form of anger of an irrational type. The depressed adolescent may take to verbal abuse as well as getting into fights.
Making statements of despair is another symptom of adolescent depression, which can be especially disturbing to others especially those close to them. Attempting to communicate with such a depressed adolescent and get him or her to discuss the writings, sayings or art, may help get the child or adolescent to get out of whatever is causing the depressed person to do and say such things.  This is very serious since it is estimated that every year approximately 10 teenagers for every 100,000 commit suicide.    

So knowing what signs to look for in your teenager is very important. Don't take it as just normal teenage behavior. Knowing when your teenager is battling depression can help them have a better life, or even save their life.

The first step to beating depression is learning about depression.
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