Depression in Teenagers (Misconceptions #1) By: Sri Vaishnavi Karri

Teen mental health often faces misconceptions, and we are going to slowly challenge and dismiss some of these misunderstandings in this blog post series on Teenage Mental Health Misconceptions.

As time goes by, more and more people are becoming aware of the different mental battles teenagers fight. Two of the most common mental health disorders in teens are anxiety and depression, and one of the most common misconceptions regarding mental health is that teens don't actually have depression, it’s simply teenage moodiness.

First of all, a common aspect of puberty is moodiness, however it’s important to remember that a symptom of depression is also irritability, especially in teenagers. Depression, as well as any type of mental health disorder, affects each person differently; sometimes depression may be clearly visible, but many times, it's difficult to understand someone's mental health until you get to speak with them, and hear what's really going on. That said, depression in teenagers may not always project itself to others; it can disguise itself. It is important to respect one another's presence and mood swings as you never know what someone may be circling through.

If you are someone who struggles with mental health issues, you may know that simply talking through your feelings and freeing your mind isn’t as simple as it sounds. The best way to describe this type of comfort is probably frightening, stressful, and uncomfortable. It’s easy to get trapped and bottled up in your feelings as you can feel so alone and misunderstood. It’s important to respect one another's decisions to keep things private, and work on making others feel comfortable in their space around you.

If you are around a teenager and unsure whether they are dealing with depression or teenage mood swings, here is one way to tell the difference. When a teenager is experiencing teenage mood swings, their mood will be on-and-off. They will still be able to focus on their surroundings and spend time doing enjoyable things. When a teenager is undergoing depression, their mood will be off for a constant period of time. It may last a week, two weeks, or even months in a row. They will show little energy and struggle to focus on the positives of day-to-day life.

If you notice that your child, friend, or family member is undergoing depression, work on comforting them in the way that makes them feel comfortable. Push them to talk to someone, but never force them. Recovering and healing takes time and strength, and loving support. Feeling alone in something is the number one thing that will bring feelings of joy and need for change down. Support from family and friends is needed in the lows, even though it may feel difficult to keep up. Remember that having to restart in your recovery journey is completely normal! Nothing in life ever takes one try to get right!

Stay tuned to challenge another misconception on teenage mental health!