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Life as a teenager -

Teenagers—anyone between 13 and 19—are also called adolescents. And adolescence, the period between childhood and adulthood, can be challenging.

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A lot to deal with -

There's a lot going in the body throughout these years, during which most teens are still finding themselves and learning to live in their own skin.

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Hormones are kicking in -

At this stage of their lives, hormonal changes in teens are working overtime. The adolescent brain pumps out growth hormones, adrenal stress hormones, and hormones critical to male and female characteristics.

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A demanding time -

This rapid brain development and its effects can be a lot to deal with. Add to the mix an altering of relationships with family and friends, and it's no wonder teen years can be a demanding time for young people and their guardians.

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A change for the better? -

The fact is that while a change in your teen's behavior may cause concern, many of these mood and behavioral changes can be normal.

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Signs of depression and anxiety -

But when does undesirable behavior start to indicate mental health issues in a teenager? It's not always easy to tell.

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Early signs -

If your teenager is feeling sad and down for an extended period of time, it could be an indicator they are suffering from depression or anxiety.

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How to tell the difference -

Anxiety and depression are often comorbid, that is simultaneously present in someone. But the way they show up can be quite different.

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The anxious teenager -

A teenager overwhelmed by a sense of anxiety may have an adverse reaction to the thing that is making them feel anxious.

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The depressed teenager -

Depression, on the other hand, will generally show through mood changes and withdrawal.

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What are the indicators? -

Indicators of anxiety and depression can be seen in physical, emotional, and cognitive changes.

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Lack of concentration -

Cognitive indicators include trouble concentrating and solving everyday problems.

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Poor academic performance -

Obvious red flags are missing days in school or poor school performance, and difficulty in making decisions.

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Poor memory -

Forgetfulness and trouble retaining information is also indicative of underlying cognitive issues.

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Negative mindset -

In more extreme cases, a depressed teenager may begin harboring negative thoughts, including notions of self-warm or worse.

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Sorry and sad -

Emotional or behavioral signs are many and can include feeling sad, tearful, moody, and irritable. Avoiding friends and a social life, and a general lack of interest in usual everyday activities, are other worrying signs.

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Lack of self-esteem -

Feeling worthless with no self-esteem and lacking energy or oversleeping are more red flags.

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Physical red flags -

Physical signs extend to switching between feeling sluggish or unmotivated to manic hyperactivity.

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Issue with food -

Eating too little or too much are classic physical and emotional signs that all is not well.

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How to support your teen -

A teenager struggling with their mental health is an issue that needs to be taken seriously.

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Talk and listen -

The key to addressing this need is to talk to your teen about how they are feeling and how you can support them.

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Gain their trust -

But discussing mental health issues with teenagers can be a touchy subject. It's therefore vital that parents gain the trust of their offspring completely and unconditionally.

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Demonstrate empathy -

This is important because teens who naturally distrust their moms and dads due to their parents' roles as authority figures will not open up about their problems easily, if at all.

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Find a third party -

A way around this dilemma is to find an adult whom the teenager does trust and can engage with in conversation.

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Family comes first -

However, experts agree that mental illness in teens requires a comprehensive approach and group effort from family members.

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Recovery program -

To that effect, a personalized recovery program should be drawn up. This can include services and features such as cognitive behavioral therapy for managing thoughts, actions, and emotions in a positive way.

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A positive outlet -

Any therapeutic approach should also provide healthy outlets for self-expression, realization, and recreation.

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Adolescent therapy -

If the family approach fails, then professional adolescent therapy is recommended. This affords a safe and neutral environment for your teen to share their experiences, work through challenges, and gain valuable coping mechanisms.

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Focus on the positive -

Adolescent therapy focuses on building empathy, self-reflection, mindfulness, and other useful traits for recovery.

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Road to recovery -

The ultimate aim of adolescent therapy is to prevent a teenager from experiencing a mental health crisis and to shape safe and positive pathways to adulthood. 

Sources: (HealthPartners) (Wellness Road Psychology) (Harvard Health) (Newport Academy) 

See also: Common habits that negatively affect your mental health

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