As a child grows into a teen, immeasurable growth and change are happening. Being a modern day teen has its unique challenges, and parenting a modern teen is equally testing.
Some behaviors are a normal part of growth and maturing, while others may indicate there is a medical condition, such as depression, that goes beyond average mood swings. Depression is a common condition, affecting one in every six people in their lifetime. Depression can be defined as a serious health problem that negatively affects all aspects of living, including how you feel and the ways you act and think. It is possible to occur at any point in one’s lifetime, but studies show that depression occurs most commonly in the late teens to early twenties. Fortunately, depression is treatable and treatment can be varied to discover what works for your teen’s needs.
Teen Depression Warning Signs
If you are questioning if your teen has depression or is simply moody, there are some telltale signs of depression to look for. Because of the cognitive development of the brain in teens and young adults, there are different indicators of depression than what we might look for in adults. Some signifiers of depression include:
- Sadness, agitation and irritability that affect functioning at school, work, and home.
- Loss of appetite.
- Increased appetite.
- Inability to sleep.
- Sleeping too much.
- Feelings of worthlessness or self-loathing.
- Withdrawal from relationships and activities that previously brought joy.
- Fatigue and lack of energy.
- Restlessness and useless physical activity such as pacing or hand-wringing.
- Thoughts of suicide.
When an adult experiences depression, the adult is more likely to be sad and withdrawn. The teenage expression of depression is more likely to come in the form of withdrawal from authority figures, not peers. Notably, sadness may not be as present as angst and irritability. Adults usually experience insomnia while depressed, whereas teenagers find a way to sleep, even at odd hours.
Teens and Depression Treatment: What to do?
You know your teen better than anyone. Quality time each day listening and not lecturing your teen is crucial. Should you notice your teen exhibiting the behaviors connected with depression for more than two weeks it is more than just a growth spurt or hormonal changes. The severity and frequency of the symptoms are also noteworthy indicators of the need to pursue teen depression treatment.
Presently, there are many options for curing depression in teens. The first step is to notice what your teen is experiencing, and with the help of your pediatrician discern what your pursuit of treatment should be. It is important to identify the roles of support the family can play and decide together to create an environment where the teen can heal. The most successful treatments tend to be a combination of talk therapy and medication. It takes an entire team of professionals and family cooperation to make the process of healing a triumph.
Teen Depression Treatment with Wilderness Therapy
Other than the combination of medicine and psychotherapy, there are alternative forms of teen depression treatment. Pacific Quest thrives on providing a holistic approach to aiding in customizing your teen’s recovery. In every success, we find that teens are most likely successful because of a variety of therapies braided together to cater to the needs of your child and your family.
One of those strands unique to Pacific Quest is Horticultural Therapy. This type of intervention consists of blending together the beauty and science of caretaking plant life with the latest information on human behavior, psychology and talk therapy. The labor and compassionate attention given to gardening alongside traditional therapies makes for a highly successful healing process and ability to overcome depression. The process of growing and caring for your own plant life is motivating, centered on growth, inspires self-confidence and supports the community. Both deeply personal and social, the gardens at Pacific Quest provide neurological healing and lifelong internal and practical skills.
The team at Pacific Quest labor directly with the students creating a safe and predictable environment within the beauty and splendor of the garden. Many practical life skills are gained as they try to build something beautiful and edible for a community alongside nature, not against it. The immense sense of purpose that comes from the process of creating something for everyone is a great contributor to the student making gains in responsibility and recovery. The beauty of the Hawaiian Islands and the culture of loving the land makes this journey to recovery a truly viable one.
As you look to the journey out of depression for your teen and your family, there are many options to consider. As you talk to your teen and observe their behavior, you can be confident knowing what is available. Because you and your teen are ready to begin the healing process, contact one of our Admission Directors today.