Teenage Depression

Up to 15% of American adolescents aged 12-17 report instances of teenage depression. Prompt treatment can prevent the condition from worsening and reduce the risk of mental health problems in adulthood. At Axis Integrated Mental Health, with offices in Louisville and Aurora, Colorado, a team of mental health specialists provides care for teenage depression. After evaluating your child, they can make personalized treatment recommendations to help them feel better. Call the nearest Axis Integrated Mental Health office to schedule teenage depression treatment for your child, or book an appointment online today.

What is teenage depression?

Teenage depression is a mental health condition characterized by feelings of intense sadness and a loss of interest in activities. Though all teens experience a range of emotions, lasting unhappiness can indicate a more severe problem.

If your child isn’t acting like themselves, don’t wait to seek treatment. Teenage depression isn’t a weakness or a personal failure. It’s a real medical condition and can be managed with counseling, healthy lifestyle changes, and prescription medication. 

What are the symptoms of teenage depression?

Teenage depression symptoms include:

• Feelings of sadness
• Crying spells
• Feeling hopeless or empty
• Loss of interest in pleasure
• Fixation on past failures
• Tiredness and loss of energy
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Slowed thinking
• Social isolation
• Self-harm

Many teens experience intense emotions, but you need to be able to tell the difference between depression and normal adolescent ups and downs. Talking with your teen is a great place to start. When you do, try to gauge whether they can handle these emotions or if they’re becoming overwhelmed.

When should my teen see a doctor for depression?

Make an appointment at Axis Integrated Mental Health if your teen’s symptoms continue for several weeks and affect their performance at school and other activities. If you have concerns about self-harm or suicide, immediately get your child help. Depression symptoms typically worsen without treatment. Quick intervention could save your child’s life.

What causes teenage depression?

Teenage depression occurs for various reasons, including:

• Genetic predisposition
• Environmental stressors (For example, academic and peer pressure)
• Trauma
• Social influences (For example, social rejection)
• Social media

Excessive screen time can also play a role. If your child spends hours on their computer, smartphone, or tablet, it can affect their sleep and increase their risk of low self-esteem.

How is teen depression treated?

The Axis Integrated Mental Health team treats teen depression using an integrative and holistic approach. Often, they suggest a combination of:

Therapy

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, involves your teen working one-on-one with a professional. The Axis Integrated Mental Health team offers several types of therapy to teens, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and family therapy.

During therapy, the counselor teaches your child to identify unhealthy behaviors and thought patterns and find healthy ways to cope and solve problems. These efforts can ease depression and help your teen regain a sense of happiness and control.

Prescription medication

Prescription medications, like antidepressants, treat chemical imbalances in the brain responsible for depression. To determine the best medication for your child, their provider may order genetic testing. The results of this test can help identify a drug that will benefit your child most, even if it’s off-label.

It may take some trial and error to find the medication that works best for your child, but when combined with psychotherapy, medication can provide lasting depression relief. In rare cases, the team may recommend ketamine infusion treatment.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

TMS is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the area of the brain responsible for mood control and depression. Activating this region may boost mood and ease your teen’s depression.

The Axis Integrated Mental Health team also prescribes lifestyle changes, like regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and getting sufficient sleep. Furthermore, the practice offers support groups where teens can network with their peers.

Depending on the extent of your teen’s depression, Axis Integrated Mental Health may recommend an intensive outpatient program that utilizes the above or a partial hospitalization program. The team thoroughly discusses every treatment option to provide the best care for your child.

Call the nearest Axis Integrated Mental Health office to schedule teen depression treatment for your child, or book an appointment online today.