Depression in teens is a very serious subject. Each year, 4% of teenagers will suffer serious depression, and need professional help.

It is healthy to feel sad, but depression is prolonged sadness without recovery. And if your teen suffers from depression, you will likely find their school grades will suffer, the relationship with their friends and family will be strained, and they will engage in more harmful behavior like unprotected sex and drug usage.

However, with the proper resources, depression in teens can be treated. With that said, most depression in teens in the United States goes untreated. This is unfortunate, because depression that is untreated will only get worse, and be harder to treat if treatment does take place.

Manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, and reactive depression are the two most common types or depression in teens. Prolonged states of sadness and feelings of unworthiness are the two chief characteristics associated with reactive depression. Bipolar disorder, on the other hand, is characterized by constant mood changes from extreme happiness to extreme sadness, all occurring in a short period of time.

When evaluating depression in teens, there are certain symptoms you should look for. If your teen cries, but doesn't fill the usual relief associate with crying , and is continually said, this is a critical sign.

Also, if they often express feelings of guilt, for no adequate reason, and their self-esteem is low, that is another sign. Other indicators are frequent indecision, a negative outlook on life, irregular sleep patterns, and high irritability, to name a few.

The first step a teenager needs to take if they feel depressed is to communicate with somebody they trust can help them. There are many different options for it teenager to discuss their problems with, such as their parents, their family doctor, somebody they trust in their church, and school counselor, or professional psychologists.

Psychotherapy and/or medication are two methods that are most commonly used in treating depression in teens. Depression in teens is alleviated with psychotherapy by talking about how the teen feels with a trained therapist, while trying to locate the root cause of the depression. Depression can be easily corrected in most cases, because the teen is unaware of their faulty view of understanding reality, which is causing the depression.

Medication is often prescribed in more severe cases of depression in teens. In fact, in more severe cases, medication may first be required before therapy can take place.

To sum it up, consider the facts I've offered in this article as they relate to depression in teens. This information can be used for you to help determine the best course of action, and to make sure your teen is not suffering unnecessarily because of depression.

Tags: goal setting, leadership, meditation