Physical Signs of Teen Depression

Depression isn’t just an adult condition. It can hit anyone at any age, including teens. However, with the wild hormone fluctuations of puberty, signs of depression in teenagers can easily be overlooked.

At Interventional Psychiatry Group, serving the Cordova community of Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Jim Pang, Jr., Dr. Shannon Pitts, and our expert staff understand how tricky it can be sometimes to detect signs of depression in your teen, which is why we want you to know what to look for, so you can get them help before the problem becomes too entrenched.

Teens and depression

Teen depression is more than just a bout of the blues. It’s a serious mental health problem that negatively affects how your teenager thinks, feels, and behaves, and it can lead to emotional, functional, and physical problems.

Depression isn’t endemic to any time in life, but its symptoms may be different between teens and adults.

The teenage years are filled with a roller-coaster ride of ups, downs, and especially change. Add in issues like peer pressure, academic expectations, and rapidly changing bodies, and you have a recipe for mental health challenges.

While many teens make it through these years just fine, for some, the lows weigh them down. These are more than just temporary feelings, they're a symptom of depression.

Depression isn't a character flaw or something that can be overcome with willpower. Rather, it’s a biological problem that can have serious consequences and requires long-term treatment. For most teens, their symptoms ease with treatments such as medication and psychological counseling.

Signs of depression

Depression is characterized by a low mood, but what does that look like? Some physical signs include:

• Extreme fatigue
• Insomnia or sleeping too much
• Decreased appetite and weight loss, or increased cravings and weight gain
• Pacing, hand-wringing, or an inability to sit still
• Slowed thinking, speaking, or body movements
• Frequent complaints of unexplained body aches and headaches
• Uncharacteristic poor school performance or frequent absences
• Less attention to personal hygiene or appearance
• Frequent angry outbursts, disruptive or risky behavior, or other acting-out behaviors
• Indications of self-harm (for example, cutting or burning)
• Repeated talk about death and dying

Not every teen will have all the signs, but if you notice an uncharacteristic change in your teen’s behavior for the worse, it’s time to seek out medical help.

Treating teen depression

Treatment depends on the type and severity of your teenager's symptoms. 

Medications

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications to treat teen depression: fluoxetine (Prozac®) and escitalopram (Lexapro®).

Most antidepressants are generally safe, but the FDA requires all of them to carry a black box warning. Though it's uncommon, some children, teens, and young adults under 25 may see an increase in suicidal thoughts and/or behavior when taking antidepressants. This is especially true when first starting a medication or when the dose is changed.

Everyone responds a bit differently, so finding the right medication or dose for your teen may take a bit of trial and error. Be patient. Some medications need at least several weeks to take full effect and for side effects to ease as the body adjusts. Encourage your teen not to give up, and be there for them.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also called counseling or talk therapy, is a general term for talking with a mental health professional about your experience with depression and how it makes you feel. The therapist may use different types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT), to address your issues effectively.

Psychotherapy can be done one-on-one, with family members, or in a group with other teens. Through regular sessions, your teen can:

• Learn how to identify and make changes in unhealthy behaviors or thoughts
• Explore relationships and experiences
• Find better ways to cope and solve problems
• Gain self-esteem
• Set realistic goals
• Regain a sense of happiness and control
• Help ease depression symptoms such as hopelessness and anger
• Learn to adjust to a crisis or other difficulty

Therapy is an ongoing process, so it’s important to give it time, just as with medication, to see positive results.

If your teen is showing physical signs of depression, our team at Interventional Psychiatry Group can help. Call our office at 901-752-4900 to set up an evaluation, or book online with us today.