I Think My Teen is Depressed

Being a teenager is never easy, and these days, with disruptions in school and family routines due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, it’s harder than ever. A certain amount of moodiness is normal – even inevitable – for most teens as they adjust to the challenges of adulthood.

But if your teen seems too anxious, sad, or irritable, it’s possible that they’re dealing with serious depression and need mental health care support. Depression is a real mental health issue in the lives of many teens, and treating depression is a key part of what it takes to prevent teen suicide.

At Nugent Family Counseling Center, our team of mental health counseling experts, led by Dr. Geoff Nugent, can help you, your teen, and your family understand more about your teen’s mental health and care needs. Come consult with our team at our locations in San Jose, Aliso Viejo, and Santa Clara, California, and Reno, Nevada.

If your teen does have depression, we can work with you to put together a personalized treatment plan that can effectively support your teenager and help them work through depression symptoms, finding calm, hope, and relief.

Signs of depressions in teens

Depression affects your teenager’s brain at a deep level, causing emotional, cognitive, and behavioral changes.

Watch out for signs and symptoms of depression in teens including:

• Changes of regular attitudes or behavior
• Feelings of sadness, frustration, or anger that seem outsized compared to triggering events
• Feelings of hopelessness or emptiness
• Loss of self-esteem or increasing feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Loss of interest in the activities that usually matter to your teen
• Disconnection from friends and social groups
• Loss of energy, insomnia, or excessive thinking
• Trouble with cognition, including concentration and decision-making
• A sudden worsening of performance at school

If your child is struggling with symptoms like these, reach out to the team at Nugent Family Counseling Center for help you can trust.

If your child frequently mentions suicide or has a plan for killing themselves, seek care right away. You may need to call 911, or seek help from the United States National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or use its webchat on suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat. 

Treating teenage depression

While depression can present a problem at any point in your life, the teenage years are a particularly intense and difficult time for mental health. Many teens deal with depression as they handle changing bodies, expectations, freedoms, and social roles. And, teens also have to deal with changing brain chemistry, hormones, and the ongoing impacts of any childhood traumas.

At Nugent Family Counseling Center, we work with our patients to put together the right treatment plan for their depression. Your teen may benefit from treatments and therapies including:

• Psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Group therapy
• Medication management
• Aromatherapy
• Neurofeedback or “brain training”
• Microcurrent electrical therapy

With the right support, your teen can weather the storms of teen depression and come into adulthood healthy and well-adjusted.

Contact the team at Nugent Family Counseling Center for the care and support that your teen needs today. Schedule your appointment over the phone, or book with our online tool.