Depression & Anxiety

Where has your baby gone?

You’ve always been so proud of your child. Such a sweet and loving little boy or girl.

Always happy. Always smiling. Boundless energy and curiosity. Always up to something.

And there was no music sweeter than the sound of your youngster’s laugh.

But something’s happened.

You’re getting calls from school administrators who report unusually low grades, skipping classes, tardiness, apathy, and other rebellious behaviors. The English teacher shared morbid poetry and journal entries, and the coach called to say that getting off the bench requires regular attendance at practice and cooperation with teammates – and that’s not happening. Instead, there’s lack of effort and conflict.

At home, it’s as if you’re living with a stranger: sluggish, forgetful, confused, withdrawn. Friends don’t come over much anymore. The vibrant young person you used to know now feels hopeless, seems prone to anxiety attacks, becomes unexpectedly irritable and reclusive, and mopes around in a perpetual fog.

You can see the anguish and frustration – but you don’t know how to help.

Understanding depression in teenagers

Certainly, we’ve all been through adolescence; and we may harbor some negative, even traumatic memories. But we’re adults, and we have “real world” problems now. It’s understandable that we might fail to realize just how overwhelming adolescence can be, particularly if we are blessed with financial security, stable households, and strong communities.

What we may easily overlook is the extraordinary number of significant changes occurring during the teenage years. This time can be extremely tough, and depression affects teenagers far more often than many of us realize.

In fact, researchers estimate that one in five adolescents from all walks of life will suffer from depression at some point during their teen years.

However, while depression is highly treatable, most depressed teens never receive help.

Identifying changes in teens

Of course, occasional bad moods or acting out is to be expected during the teenage years.

But depression is different.

The negative effects of teenage depression go far beyond a somber mood.

Left untreated, depression can destroy the essence of your teen’s personality, causing an overwhelming sense of sadness, despair, or anger.

And depression is deceptive.

Its symptoms can often look like something else.

Running away. Self-injury. Low self-esteem. Reckless behavior. Or something even worse.

While they may seem like anger and rebellion, many unhealthy and rebellious behaviors or attitudes in teenagers can actually be indicators of depression, perpetrated by confused and suffering teens in misguided or even desperate attempts to cope with their emotional pain.

You watch as your child, paralyzed by feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and isolation, struggles to get out of bed each day. And you’re paralyzed, too.

But you don’t have to be. Therapy can help. I can help.

You don’t have to go through this alone.

Reach out to me today for a consultation.

Together, we’ll work to get to the source of your teen’s depression, to restore that bond between you and that vital sense of value and meaning, and to empower you both with the tools not only to cope, but to thrive as you move through this difficult time together.

Rediscover that smile, that laugh, that spark. Please call today (609) 200-5878.