Causes Teenage Depression

What causes teenage depression? From occasional sad days to a crippling sense of hopelessness, it is a mental illness with complicated roots.

What Causes Teen Depression – A Few Risk Factors

There is no single definitive cause of depression. Its onset is triggered by a mix of biological and environmental factors. However, there are a few risk factors that can make a teen more likely to face the illness:

• Heredity – You are more likely to become depressed if a family member has suffered from depression in the past. On a biological level, the illness is caused by imbalances in brain chemicals and hormones. You may be genetically predisposed to these imbalances. This also means that if you have been depressed in the past, you are likely to become depressed again.
• Stress and trauma – Stress and traumatic events make the body more susceptible to depression. The trauma can be recent, such as the death of a family member, or it can be rooted in childhood, including abuse and abandonment. Other sources of stress may include divorce, school pressures, or breaking up with a longtime boyfriend or girlfriend.
• Gender – Females are more likely to become depressed than males, possibly because of hormonal factors.
• Alcohol and drug abuse – Abusing drugs and alcohol can also lead to depression.

Recognizing Depression

Perhaps more important than understanding what causes teenage depression, however, is recognizing its signs. Be on the lookout for the following actions and behaviors:

• The most well-known sign of depression is a general feeling of sadness. Teens may cry more easily or develop a darker outlook on life. These emotions are more pervasive and all-consuming than a simple bad day.
• One of the classic symptoms of depression is a lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy. This can also result in a general sense of boredom and decreased energy.
• Depressed teens may experience physical illnesses and discomfort. A chronic upset stomach or recurring headache may actually be a sign of depression. Changed sleep patterns are another potential symptom in which the mental imbalance disrupts the natural body cycles.
• Although alcohol and drug use can cause depression, depressed teens may also turn to drugs or alcohol as a form of self-medication, creating a vicious cycle.
• Depressed teens will often have problems at school. The illness can decrease concentration, making it more difficult to perform well. In addition, the general malaise depression brings on makes teens care less about grades and attendance.
• Teens dealing with depression may be quicker to anger. Because of this and their lack of interest in activities, relationships with friends and family can suffer. In many cases, they are no longer willing to make the effort required to maintain healthy dealings with those around them.
• There is a clear link between teenage depression and suicide. Depressed teens may become obsessed with death, express an interest in dying, or begin to harm themselves. If you or someone you love is feeling this way, it is vital to seek help immediately.

Seeking Help

If you sleep in late and don't feel like doing anything with your friends one weekend, you may have just been overtired. If you realize you no longer have fun at soccer practice, maybe it's time to try a new sport. If you sleep ten hours every night, only to still feel tired, have no interest in the swimming lessons that you once loved, and these feelings persist for several weeks, you may be depressed. An important question to ask is, "Do the symptoms interfere with my life?" If the answer is yes, that's a clear sign that you should seek treatment.

It is important to seek professional help in dealing with depression. This is not something you can "just get over" or wait out. Doctors can rule out other potential health problems and get you on the road to recovery. Psychiatrists treat depression with medication, therapy, or a mix of the two. Medicine takes care of the biological roots of the illness while therapy helps you discover and face the underlying issues that may have triggered the episode. You owe it to yourself and everyone who cares for you to get the help you need.

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