Need an adolescent psychologist or therapist?
Need a therapist for adolescent, teen or child counseling in Chicago? Live on the North Side in Lakeview, Uptown, Edgewater or the Gold Coast? Hoping to help your son with issues like depression, anxiety or social withdraw?
If the answer is yes, you wouldn’t be alone. One of the most common reasons people seek out counseling is to gain help with a child. Teens today, particularly in Chicago, face big obstacles socially, psychologically, and emotionally. There’s the demand to be the same as their peers, the pressure to have a certain style, and the stress to achieve success academically.
As a result, teen depression is very common. Nearly every teen will have a minimum of one severe depressive episode. What are the signs that your teen might be depressed? And, if you feel your teen has depression, what can you do?
Dangerous Misconceptions
The greatest misconception is that it will always be obvious if your teen is depressed. Often, changing behavior that seems to have nothing to do with depression is a result of your teen being depressed and crying for help.
Thinking that suicidal threats are simply a way of seeking attention, is a very dangerous misconception! The majority of teens who commit suicide or attempt to commit suicide, have provided obvious indications or threatened to kill themselves.
A misconception that has fueled the rise in untreated teen depression is that antidepressants are harmful to teens. Multiple mental health studies have shown that the advantages of antidepressants far over-shadow any potential risks. Antidepressants do save many lives and help to prevent suicides.
Symptoms of Teen Depression
Teen depression goes way past normal periodic bouts of moodiness. It generally grows into a more serious and unending unhappiness, with increasingly negative ideas and behavior. However, not every depressed teen looks or feels unhappy. Rather, they might seem to be irritable, easily frustrated, or angry.
Related: Best therapist for adolescents in Chicago
Teens battling with depression might also develop inexplicable pains, along with other physical symptoms such as nausea or chills. They might begin to take part in dangerous, risky behavior, like promiscuity, reckless driving, or substance abuse.
Suicidal Warning Signs
The most disastrous result of teen depression is when it ends in suicide. Next to accidents, suicide is the second most common reason for premature death among teens.
You should watch out for symptoms of suicide. Making jokes about suicide or threats of committing suicide, writing stories or poetry about dying, offering treasured possessions to others, saying goodbye to you as though it’s the last time, drastic alterations in appearance, and participating in self-harm are all serious warning signs.
Suicidal ideas and behaviors should never be overlooked or minimized. If there’s any suspicion of severe depression or potential suicide, it is advisable to remove any weapons from your home, as well as hiding prescription and over-the-counter medications. You might want to consider extra supervision for your teen as well.
The Road to Healing
The initial step to helping a depressed teen is to open up and communicate. Don’t try to talk them out of being depressed, this doesn’t work and is likely to isolate them even more. Tell your teen that you realize he or she is in pain, and only want to help. Avoid asking too many questions at once.
Pediatricians, counselors, psychiatrists, and psychologists are all at your disposal to help your teen through this difficult time. Don’t hesitate to seek the help of a professional if you need it.
Learning to recognize the warning signs of teen depression, and getting help for your teen in time, can save their life. Don’t lose hope. If your teen is depressed, remember that teen depression can be treated!
If you are looking for counseling for your adolescent in Chicago, feel free to send us a confidential note through this online form or call us at 773.528.1777
