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For parents, it isn’t always easy to differentiate between normal teenage growing pains and depression.
dissolve relationships, delete and prohibit using all social media accounts, or disband anything that could potentially trigger or enhance anxiety and depression symptoms. But banning your teenager from social outlets or becoming a helicopter parent is not the short answer. They desire autonomy and stripping that away from them could potentially be a recipe for disaster. As a parent, you have the responsibility to know what your child is doing and how their behaviors are impacting them. Rather than cutting off their connection to the world, opt for a different approach. Talk with them and understand how and why certain social outlets may have positive or negative effects. Stay connected to them and look for any signs of unexplained behavior changes. But whatever the cause, anxiety and depression in teenagers are very real and very destructive when left untreated. The good news is, both conditions can be treated as well as the concerning problems that come with them. If they’re facing an issue, it’s important to seek treatment and help them navigate through the trying process. Not only is it healthy and helpful for them, treatment provides parents with the knowledge to understand what their child is going through and ways to specifically help them. A rule of thumb to consider: If your teen experiences discontentment for more than two weeks, it may be time to seek help from a health professional. Anxiety and depression differ in severity while creating distinct emotional and behavioral changes. It’s important to know that both conditions can co-occur. For anxiety, some of the common symptoms may include shortness of breath, racing heart, feeling restless, unable to concentrate, sweating, headaches, and insomnia. Common symptoms of depression may include: lack of interest, low self-esteem, lack of joy, long term sadness, guilt, irritability, and suicidal thoughts.
In these modern times, while there isn’t just one distinct cause for anxiety and depression that targets teens, it’s important for parents to understand the various common reasons why their child might be suffering and symptoms to look for. Some of the issues that affect teens are the demands of school performance, homework, extracurricular activities, work, social status among peers, sexual orientation or family life. Another aspect to consider for anxiety and depression, which is somewhat considered taboo and personal but relevant to note, is teen depression sometimes run in families. In fact, research shows that it may be more common among adolescents who have a family history of depression. Last, but not least, social media platforms have become some of the most popular and integral components to teenage life causing anxiety and lowering self-esteem, suggest experts. With no exception to the rule, this multimedia frenzy is negatively impacting many teens with exposure to peer pressure, cyber bullying, social isolation, and suicide. Particularly, teen suicide is a serious problem. It’s the second leading cause of death among young adults in the U.S. Suicide is an act of depression and teen depression is often the root cause. Each can have a major impact on how a teen feels and, with these alarming identifiers, they can develop feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy. As a concerned parent discovering any adverse findings, your first instinct might make you want to forbid all social outlets,
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