What depression looks like in teens

Rick Meeves, PhD Adolescent Therapist, shares advice for parents on how to spot the signs of depression in your teen and how to differentiate those symptoms from typical teen moodiness
Signs of Depression in Teenagers
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What depression looks like in teens

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Depression in teens can be differentiated from normal moodiness in teens. Most teens experience some moodiness, but depression is what occurs over time. Symptoms that include, sad, lonliness, withdrawal, isolation, lower functioning, lower energy levels, not doing their homework. It is most especially noted by, they aren't doing things that they normally did or previously did and got some satisfaction out of it. When those things start to happen, it's a clear sign of depression and some assessment might be needed by a treatment professional, It's so prevalent because kids are facing tremendous pressures. Their resilience, their ability to bounce back and cope with difficulties, is decreasing over time. I think that kids today face a host of anxieties and troubles and challenges and trials, that they are not very well equipped to deal with. So much information, so many things they are able to access, that they don't have a great sense of who they are as far as their identity. They are developing coping and resilience that they need to bounce back from challenging and trying times.

Rick Meeves, PhD Adolescent Therapist, shares advice for parents on how to spot the signs of depression in your teen and how to differentiate those symptoms from typical teen moodiness

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Rick Meeves, PhD, LMFT

Clinical Director of CRC

Dr. Rick Meeves has spent the last 16 years working with adolescents and their families. He currently serves as the Director of Adolescent Clinical Services for CRC Health Group, the nation’s largest provider of addiction treatment and related behavioral health services.  Rick has helped families deal with the rapidly expanding access to video and electronic media. As a practitioner he has seen teens lock themselves in their rooms, playing video games for days on end. He has also seen teens who became addicted to online gambling. Rick has seen parents who have accepted this behavior as some acceptable alternative to staying out all night or using drugs or alcohol. He has helped families re-establish healthy patterns and use of electronic gaming and has established healthy patterns with his own boys.

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Transcription: 
Depression in teens can be differentiated from normal moodiness in teens. Most teens experience some moodiness, but depression is what occurs over time. Symptoms that include, sad, lonliness, withdrawal, isolation, lower functioning, lower energy levels, not doing their homework. It is most especially noted by, they aren't doing things that they normally did or previously did and got some satisfaction out of it. When those things start to happen, it's a clear sign of depression and some assessment might be needed by a treatment professional, It's so prevalent because kids are facing tremendous pressures. Their resilience, their ability to bounce back and cope with difficulties, is decreasing over time. I think that kids today face a host of anxieties and troubles and challenges and trials, that they are not very well equipped to deal with. So much information, so many things they are able to access, that they don't have a great sense of who they are as far as their identity. They are developing coping and resilience that they need to bounce back from challenging and trying times.