Children are heavily influenced by their surroundings. When we lavish them with positivity, they often grow up with a positive mindset and a can-do attitude. However, if we subject them to certain difficulties, they can be a lot more hardened as they approach their teenage years. The trials and challenges children face during their teenage years can often define who they are once they bloom into young adults.
While our formative years are usually between the ages of 0 and 8, children start to develop complex emotions and feelings when they begin entering high school. This is made even more difficult for certain children when they’re exposed to the internet and vastly different opinions and takes on life. When your child mingles with different cultures and personalities in school, it can trigger a lot of realizations and changes that ultimately change the way they think.
As such, a common occurrence in young teenagers is depression. This isn’t just a feeling of sadness that occurs now and then, but a recurring emotion that can make them feel hopeless and helpless. To help your child break out of these feelings, it’s essential to take a delicate approach so you don’t agitate them further.
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/qYanN54gIrI (CC0)
Understanding the signs and symptoms of teenage depression
It’s hard to explain what depression feels like as it differs from person to person. However, there are a couple of common signs that you should look out for:
- Unable to enjoy things as they used to.
- Feeling worthless or guilty for things they can’t directly affect.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Abusing drugs or alcohol to help with their feelings.
- Frequent crying.
- Mood swings.
- Constantly irritable or frustrated.
- Losing or gaining a lot of weight.
- Having trouble concentrating in school.
- Falling grades and difficulty at school.
- Feeling hopeless and/or helpless.
If you notice these signs in your children then you may want to speak to them first. You could consult depression treatment centers for teenagers if they’ve harmed themselves or have turned to alcohol or drugs to help with their feelings. However, if they’re only occasionally showing these symptoms, you may still be able to speak with them and encourage them to break out of those negative feelings.
How to approach your child if you think they’re depressed
You must take your child seriously when they’re feeling depressed. You want to give them space to deal with their problems and listen to everything they say. They may give clues on why they’re feeling depressed and how you could help them. If they’re not willing to speak to you, then you may find it easier to encourage them to speak to a friend or family member. Whatever you do, don’t brush aside their feelings and chalk it up to a “phase”.
While there are many ways to improve your child’s mental health, it’s important to understand that there’s no easy fix that can be applied to all children. Every child deals with depression differently. You also shouldn’t blame yourself if your child feels depressed. While there is certainly a parenting factor, it’s also heavily dependent on their environment and school conditions too.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
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lookingforthelight.blog 
a great article melinda. Very relevant to the times too! :D
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It’s important for parents to let their children (young ones and teens) know that they can come to them at any time, with any problems, and let them know that you will listen without judgment but with empathy, compassion, and consideration.
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That just doesn’t seem to be the case for so many.
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I know, and that’s so unfortunate. We have parents having children and they don’t know how to love them, care for them, teach them, raise them appropriately.
Where do we start? With the little ones, or the parents?
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It has to start at both ends, and that is already happening. It’s something I’ve come to except. It’s a hard truth. There are many people who are having children when they are not capable of caring. I’m so glad that God made the decision for me. I had cancer at 28 so I was unable to have any children. I rarely feel I was cheated. I told a shrink when I was 12 years old that I would never have kids. I didn’t want to treat mine like I was treated. It was self-fulling. :)
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I’m so sorry to hear that you had cancer Melinda and obviously delighted that you pulled through, despite a big decision being taken away from you.
Fortunately, some people learn from the past, as in ‘how not to treat children’ . However, I was lucky to have a great mum and stepdad, who obviously made mistakes, but they weren’t so great that we were damaged. Sadly, it was outside things that did the damage. But again, I learned some good from it and raised two lovely young men.
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There are a lot of good parents, it’s the bad parents that can shape so many generations of unfunctional behavior. I’m lucky to have made my mistake earlier, got divorced and remarried, and now married 18 almost 19 years. the second time is much better. I got married the second time at 38 so I had learned a few lessons. So had he.
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Yep, my second time around is way better too :)
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Must share good stories to make their character strong and happy. Spend more good quality time, Must make them religious to connect with God.
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I agree with all of the things you said. They also learn by example which is important, when you have a solid reputation your kids will see that and learn from. you have a strong work ethic and are always learning, that is good for kids to see. That will help them when they get older. Have a great day. :)
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Whatever kid watch and observe in the family and they follow accordingly. Must add human values to them and make them learn😊😊😊😊
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