Is your child struggling with depression?

It is not easy to recognize the signs of depression in teenagers because of the many developmental changes they are going through. They not only are experiencing hormonal changes, but are also expected to figure out who they are as individuals, what they value, what their vocational path will be, and what their sexuality is. Identity development. There is really no other time in our lives that we go through as much as change as we do when we are teens. It is a turbulent time for even the most well-adapted kids who come from the most well-adapted families.

Some of the signs are blaring signals, such as suicidal thoughts or attempts. The trick is to figure out the signs of depression and seek help before it gets to this really scary and unsafe place.

Signs of Depression in Teens

• Isolation from peers and family
  
• Lack of self-care; not showering, wearing dirty clothing
• Changes in sleeping patterns; trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Changes in appetite; not eating enough or eating too much
• Sadness and hopelessness
  
• Loss of interest in activities
• Lack of motivation and enthusiasm
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability, anger, hostility
  
• Lack of energy, fatigue
• Thoughts of death and suicide

Depression in males is often expressed in an outward manner through aggression and defiant behaviors. This can be easily misinterpreted as something else, however, if you have a son who's aggressive behavior has increased it would be wise to consider whether depression is a factor.

Untreated depression can lead to:

• Low self-esteem; depression can trigger and intensify feelings of being shame, failure, low self-worth, poor body image.
  
• School problems; poor attendance, falling or failing grades
  
• Drug and alcohol abuse; self-medicate depressed feelings
  
• Promiscuity; attempt to feel wanted and accepted due to feelings of low-self worth
• Gaming/internet addiction; Escape problems by going on-line, increases isolation and fuels depressive thoughts and feelings.
  
• Self-injury; Attempt to regulate/self-soothe depressed emotions and feelings.
• High risk behaviors & Violence (bullying); adrenaline rush to mask depression, gain control and power to mask the hopeless and helpless feelings.

Depression is viewed from a situational standpoint and a chemical-imbalance standpoint. Difficult to tolerate situations such as loss of a loved one, move to a new place/school, social ineptness that leads to isolation from peers, unsuccessful in school (i.e. undiagnosed learning disability or ADHD) can be major contributors to depression. It is believed that depression has a genetic link, so a review of your family history and depression is important to explore and share with a professional if you are concerned about your child's emotional state.

If you are concerned about your child having depression, there are many professional options available to you such as mental health therapists who specialize in teen issues, child and adolescent psychiatrists, school counselors and social workers.

In Colorado, the Second Wind Fund is a resource that provides no-cost counseling to teens (up to 19) who do not have insurance or the funds available for counseling. See your school counselor for information to see if you qualify.

Internet and Video Gaming Problems

I am seeing more young people in my practice who are struggling to manage their time on computers. They are losing touch with friends at school, dropping activities they used to enjoy, fighting more with parents, and are experiencing slipping grades. Parents are challenged to figure out how to manage this problem, one which we are discovering is complicated and quite addicting to the developing brains of our young people. It is complicated because computers are everywhere. Most families in the US own a computer, if not 2 or 3. Many young people have computers in their bedrooms.

Facebook, My Space, World of Warcraft, Halo, Call of Duty, and The Sims are some examples of social-networking sites and games that attract a lot of our young peoples time. However, the games that we are most concerned about are the MMORPGs or massive multi player on-line role-play games. Thousands of players from all over the world log onto these games and interact with each other. They form guilds, which is like a team. They work together to accomplish a goal. They play play together for months or years. World of Warcraft (WOW), Maple Story, and Everquest are examples of these games. There are actually 174 MMORPGs available to play right now.

I am focusing on this type of game because we are finding that it is one of the most addictive right now. In China and South Korea video game addiction is their most pressing public health problem. They have discovered several years ago what we are just learning now.

What causes these types of games to become potentially addictive? In order for the player to be successful, they are required to devote a lot of time and attention to the game. Your guild counts on you to be available. You have a responsibility to your new friends and do not want to let them down. Dopamine, which is a feel-good chemical, is released whenever an important task is accomplished, one that may have taken days or maybe weeks to complete. As a result, the player feels good and seeks more pleasure by playing the game.

Many times, the young people engaged in these games lack social skills and find it difficult connecting with peers at school and in the community. Multi player games make a social network easily accessible to these young people. The teen or young adult with low self-esteem can also develop and portray a persona that they believe others will like. Young people report that some of their best friends are people they have never seen or talked to on the phone, but have met via the video games.

So what is the antidote? Helping your child develop social skills and how to handle emotions so they can connect to the real world. The experiences in the real world are anxiety provoking for a lot of gamers, so a support of a therapist or mentor is advised. Parents, you will most likely be in the role of the enforcer, so finding a support system to assist you and your child will increase the chances of success.