But the signs of depression in teens often differ from the symptoms seen in adults and are hard to spot. Here are some of those more surprising red flags that parents should be looking for:
Of course, spotting any one of the above signs doesn’t mean your teen is depressed. Rather, it’s the combination of numerous red flags that spell trouble.
More from The Stir: Teen Depression Doesn’t Always Look Like Somebody Else’s Kid
__
So what should you do if you spot many of the above symptoms and think your teen needs help? First, don’t think this is something you can fix; this may require the expertise of a therapist or counselor. But don’t drag your teen to a shrink’s office, either.
“Parents should avoid trying to convince their child to seek professional help and getting into a power struggle,” says Loewen. “It is often enough to express to the teen that they don’t appear to be as happy as they could be, and that the parents want them to see someone about it.”
If your teen seems open to talking to someone, find two or three counselors in your area, then let him decide which one he likes best to give him a sense of control. From there, you can also let your teen choose whether he’d like to see the therapist alone or with you, and be respectful if your teen doesn’t want to spill every detail of what is said behind closed doors. Your teen may feel the need for some privacy to open up, which is the key to putting him on the path to a happier state of mind.
Is your teen showing signs of depression?
*Images via MitarArt/shutterstock; © iStock.com/evgenyatamanenko *
title: “7 Signs Your Teen May Be Depressed” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-06” author: “Karla Moretto”
But the signs of depression in teens often differ from the symptoms seen in adults and are hard to spot. Here are some of those more surprising red flags that parents should be looking for:
Of course, spotting any one of the above signs doesn’t mean your teen is depressed. Rather, it’s the combination of numerous red flags that spell trouble.
More from The Stir: Teen Depression Doesn’t Always Look Like Somebody Else’s Kid
__
So what should you do if you spot many of the above symptoms and think your teen needs help? First, don’t think this is something you can fix; this may require the expertise of a therapist or counselor. But don’t drag your teen to a shrink’s office, either.
“Parents should avoid trying to convince their child to seek professional help and getting into a power struggle,” says Loewen. “It is often enough to express to the teen that they don’t appear to be as happy as they could be, and that the parents want them to see someone about it.”
If your teen seems open to talking to someone, find two or three counselors in your area, then let him decide which one he likes best to give him a sense of control. From there, you can also let your teen choose whether he’d like to see the therapist alone or with you, and be respectful if your teen doesn’t want to spill every detail of what is said behind closed doors. Your teen may feel the need for some privacy to open up, which is the key to putting him on the path to a happier state of mind.
Is your teen showing signs of depression?
*Images via MitarArt/shutterstock; © iStock.com/evgenyatamanenko *
title: “7 Signs Your Teen May Be Depressed” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-05” author: “Martha Wetzel”
But the signs of depression in teens often differ from the symptoms seen in adults and are hard to spot. Here are some of those more surprising red flags that parents should be looking for:
Of course, spotting any one of the above signs doesn’t mean your teen is depressed. Rather, it’s the combination of numerous red flags that spell trouble.
More from The Stir: Teen Depression Doesn’t Always Look Like Somebody Else’s Kid
__
So what should you do if you spot many of the above symptoms and think your teen needs help? First, don’t think this is something you can fix; this may require the expertise of a therapist or counselor. But don’t drag your teen to a shrink’s office, either.
“Parents should avoid trying to convince their child to seek professional help and getting into a power struggle,” says Loewen. “It is often enough to express to the teen that they don’t appear to be as happy as they could be, and that the parents want them to see someone about it.”
If your teen seems open to talking to someone, find two or three counselors in your area, then let him decide which one he likes best to give him a sense of control. From there, you can also let your teen choose whether he’d like to see the therapist alone or with you, and be respectful if your teen doesn’t want to spill every detail of what is said behind closed doors. Your teen may feel the need for some privacy to open up, which is the key to putting him on the path to a happier state of mind.
Is your teen showing signs of depression?
*Images via MitarArt/shutterstock; © iStock.com/evgenyatamanenko *
title: “7 Signs Your Teen May Be Depressed” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-05” author: “Hazel Robinson”
But the signs of depression in teens often differ from the symptoms seen in adults and are hard to spot. Here are some of those more surprising red flags that parents should be looking for:
Of course, spotting any one of the above signs doesn’t mean your teen is depressed. Rather, it’s the combination of numerous red flags that spell trouble.
More from The Stir: Teen Depression Doesn’t Always Look Like Somebody Else’s Kid
__
So what should you do if you spot many of the above symptoms and think your teen needs help? First, don’t think this is something you can fix; this may require the expertise of a therapist or counselor. But don’t drag your teen to a shrink’s office, either.
“Parents should avoid trying to convince their child to seek professional help and getting into a power struggle,” says Loewen. “It is often enough to express to the teen that they don’t appear to be as happy as they could be, and that the parents want them to see someone about it.”
If your teen seems open to talking to someone, find two or three counselors in your area, then let him decide which one he likes best to give him a sense of control. From there, you can also let your teen choose whether he’d like to see the therapist alone or with you, and be respectful if your teen doesn’t want to spill every detail of what is said behind closed doors. Your teen may feel the need for some privacy to open up, which is the key to putting him on the path to a happier state of mind.
Is your teen showing signs of depression?
*Images via MitarArt/shutterstock; © iStock.com/evgenyatamanenko *
title: “7 Signs Your Teen May Be Depressed” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-14” author: “Cynthia Clemons”
But the signs of depression in teens often differ from the symptoms seen in adults and are hard to spot. Here are some of those more surprising red flags that parents should be looking for:
Of course, spotting any one of the above signs doesn’t mean your teen is depressed. Rather, it’s the combination of numerous red flags that spell trouble.
More from The Stir: Teen Depression Doesn’t Always Look Like Somebody Else’s Kid
__
So what should you do if you spot many of the above symptoms and think your teen needs help? First, don’t think this is something you can fix; this may require the expertise of a therapist or counselor. But don’t drag your teen to a shrink’s office, either.
“Parents should avoid trying to convince their child to seek professional help and getting into a power struggle,” says Loewen. “It is often enough to express to the teen that they don’t appear to be as happy as they could be, and that the parents want them to see someone about it.”
If your teen seems open to talking to someone, find two or three counselors in your area, then let him decide which one he likes best to give him a sense of control. From there, you can also let your teen choose whether he’d like to see the therapist alone or with you, and be respectful if your teen doesn’t want to spill every detail of what is said behind closed doors. Your teen may feel the need for some privacy to open up, which is the key to putting him on the path to a happier state of mind.
Is your teen showing signs of depression?
*Images via MitarArt/shutterstock; © iStock.com/evgenyatamanenko *
