Teenage depression is more common than the general public realizes.  Teens, as most people know, go through chemical, physical, and emotional changes.  This can be confusing for them and put them in a position they do not quite understand.  This poses as a problem in some teens as some do become depressed.  It may make them feel as if they do not fit in or feel lonely and helpless (Mayo).  As a teen becomes more and more in a state of desolation, symptoms of this disease may begin to show.  Parents and loved ones should help their adolescent so this slope does not increase.  Treatment can be found and recommended from medical professionals, to get one who is suffering from depression back on their feet.  There are many different symptoms, diagnostics, reasons, preventions, and treatments for teenage depression.

Symptoms of a depressed teenager can range from very mild to extreme based on the amount of stress and isolation the adolescent is feeling at that time in their life.  When this happens you may notice the young adult not acting as their regular self (Shroff).

There are two different types of symptoms to look out for.  One type of symptom is the emotional symptoms.  These symptoms usually have to deal with the way the teen reacts to different things they encounter.  If one overreacts over the littlest dilemma or they become very “hot-headed”, may be a sign of depression.  Avoiding regular daily interactions such as going to school or talking to friends and sleeping during the day instead of at night are signs that the person may be in a state of depression (Mayo). 

Another type of symptom is a behavioral.  If the person often complains of aches and pains such as headaches, or constantly sleeps or is constantly awake, may be a warning signs (Shroff). Symptoms can come and go but if the person is in fact depressed, the symptoms will never truly go fully away without help and support from family, friends, and an actual medical opinion.  Sometimes families of the suffering may over look these signs because they think the adolescent is just having a few bad days being a moody teenager, but as they begin to become a daily part of life, they are most likely to be indicators of that person being in a state of depression (Mayo).

If the teenager possesses these symptoms, a professional should be advised in order to give a diagnosis.  Diagnosing the teen will get the them the help they need to feel bad to their normal self.  The doctor will mostly talk with the adolescent to get a sense of what they are suffering from and try to understand their life from the time they were born to the current period of time.  This will pinpoint why one may be depressed (Shroff).
The professional will try and evaluate the client to define the reason for the depression.  The interviews themselves may unravel the cause of the depression but other tests are usually conducted.  After they get to know the patient, they may do an overall check of the body to look for a chance of physical disability that may be making the teen depressed (Mayo).  The doctor may also give the teen bloodwork to make sure there are no unbalances, and that the thyroid is working the way it should. 

Diagnosing the teen is the best way to get a treatment that will work before the depression gets worse.  The professional will work with the teen, and their loved ones to all work together in getting them out of the fog of depression.

There are many explanations as to why a teenager may become depressed.  Every person is different and has all kinds of varieties of experiences, childhoods, family histories and sense of self-worth.  Teenagers go through a series of changes as they transition to an adult.  This can make them anxious and question their abilities (Shroff).  Although, this is not always the case in why an adolescent is depressed. 

Family heredity can have a lot to do with the diagnosis of depression in a teenager.  If a member/s of their immediate family or close relative/s has a history of this disease, the teen may have been passed down the more impressionable gene to depression (W.).  This can also have something to do with the chemical imbalance the teen may have (Shroff).  These chemicals are called “Neurotransmitters” which send nerve signals to the rest of the body, and when they are impaired this causes a different reaction than what they are meant to, resulting in depression (Mayo).  

Another reason is the trauma of separating or divorced parents.  Whether this happened when the teen was a child, or during the time of being a young adult, this can affect them in a very significant way.  Whether the parents get along with each other or not, just the fact of the dramatic change in the child’s life can leave a huge impact of the development of depression (W.).  This experience can make the teen feel lonely and not as complete as when the family was one.  The stress of having friends with their families under one roof can cause the teen to become depressed because of the longing of wanting that for his/her own family.

The stress and anxiety of school and grades can make a teen become depressed.  Whether it is the initial thought of just trying to receive and maintain high grades or even passing grades, or the trying effort to get the expected grades for the standards their parents have set for them can make the teen feel not good enough or overwhelmed with work and the strive for approval (W.).  This can become a trigger for depression because of the stress and pressure it puts on the adolescent. 

Traumatic experiences such as the loss of someone close to them, seeing something disturbing or distressing, or being in an agonizing event can lead to a state of depression.  They may feel guilt, or be unable to forget the incident, making them more vulnerable to the down slope of the disease (W.). 

The way the teenager’s outlook on the events or way the things in their life went or are going, is what may determine the probability on them becoming depressed or not (Shroff).  For example, if a person goes through a traumatic experience and they take it as an opportunity to better themselves and live on with a positive attitude, they are less likely to become depressed unlike someone who would take the experience and punish themselves for it.  

When an adolescent is diagnosed with depression, it is important for their family, friends, and loved ones to be there for them as much as they can without smothering them.  Depression for a teen is like a silent cry for help.  They may need support from others to get through the tough time they are going through (Shroff). 
Parents/Guardians of the teen have different roles they can play in their life.  Instead of telling the teen of the thing they had done wrong, talk in a more positive way to encourage the teen to do better and succeed.  The expectations a peer has for the teen may not always be perfect and they should not expect them to be.  Also, it is good to have a thorough relationship with the teen to gain their trust and have them be able to come to talk to his or her loved ones about things that may be bothering them (Shroff).  Parents/guardians sometimes may feel disconnected or distant from their teenager, making it more difficult to figure out what they are going through.  If the adolescent is not opening up, getting them to talk to a professional may open up the doors the child has shut (Shroff). 

If the teenager suffering from depression begins to talk about death and/or committing suicide, it is crucial to seek medical and professional attention.  If depression goes untreated the risk of suicidal thoughts and commitment is great.  The teen may start to think if there is even a reason to live anymore with the weight they are carrying on their shoulders without being able to realize they can get through what they are going through until it is too late.  Seeking help from doctors if the teen begins to consider this alternative can save their life (Shroff).

After the teenager is diagnosed with depression and the root of what is causing it is found, the professional will work with them and their loved ones on a treatment that best works for them and that will be most effective (Shroff). 

Varieties of methods are used to treat depression.  Sometimes the method depends on what is causing the illness or the life of the patient and how the patient thinks.  It also depends on the severity of the case and varies among the treatments (Shroff).

Medicating the depressed is one form of treatment.  The doctor may prescribe an antidepressant to the teen to decrease anxiety and mood swings.  There are two different antidepressants approved for being prescribed for teen depression; Prozac and Lexapro (Mayo).   Both of these medications have side effects and benefits with their use that will be thoroughly explained between the doctor, child, and loved ones.  The option to take the medicated route is completely up to the patient and their peers.  If the client decides this is the option they want to choose, it is up to the doctor, family, and friends to keep an extra close eye on the person taking the medicine because of the unknown effects.  Some effects may include increased suicidal thoughts and actions.  This medicine can go one of either way; relieving the depression or increasing it.  Medical professional use this method because is it highly effective throughout the cases they have seen in many young adults (Shroff).
Another treatment that may be used is psychotherapy.  This method involves sessions with a medical professional.  Discussing what is bothering the teen and talking them through their problems helps them manage what they can do to get back on track.  Also called talk therapy, it is effective to talk with the teen and give them a person to trust.  If they are able to talk about their life and the things that bother them, it might clear their mind enough to let go of the negative and have a positive outlook for new things to come (Mayo).  Most of those who have tried psychotherapy highly recommend it because of the outstanding changes they have seen in themselves (Shroff). 

If the teenager’s depression is very severe the doctor may consider institutional help.  Putting the patient in an institute may take them out of their everyday environment and give them 24/7 hands on, immediate help to when they are feeling at their weakest.  The sanctuaries have different treatments and methods to try and reach the teen from the grasp of their depression.  By talking immediately to the teen when they feel isolated can dig deeper to the sole reason for the disease (Mayo).  Also, if the teen has such a severe case that they are putting themselves and others in danger, it is a better idea to have them on watch and have a closer eye on them, keeping them and others safe. 

Coming to the decision to hospitalize/institutionalize one who is suffering from depression might be uneasy, but this is a good way to help and treat loved ones, even if they do not think they need the help.  The denial of the situation from one who is being treated may be because of the disease.  Some do not want to come to the realization that they need help, even though they may in fact need it.  Supporting the teen is one of the most effective ways to gain a sense of encouragement (Mayo).

Considering all these different treatments can be rightfully determined by professionals to pick the most effective treatment to the particular case of the patient, but rather than medication or therapy, there are alternatives that studies have shown worked (Shroff). 

Yoga and certain breathing techniques are known to relax the brain and body from stress (Mayo).  A teen who is depressed may be able to practice this in order to achieve a blank mind and gain a better outlook on life.  The yoga is also known to relax muscles and regulate chemical reactions within the body.  This may be a good thing for one to try before seeking further help (Mayo).

Massage, music, and art therapy are also ways to regulate the mind.  The different colors of the art, different tones of the music, and different techniques of the massage can relax the body and mind, digging deeper into a sense of tranquility within the teen.  These types of therapy can be helpful to some people who want a more natural way to fight through the depression (Mayo).

Whether a teen with depression uses these techniques with other types of treatment such as medication or therapy, or on their own, it is crucial to keep in touch with a doctor or therapist in order to evaluate the state and severity of the depression throughout all the different treatments.  Using the alternative treatments alone may not be enough help for some with severe depression, but using this with other treatment can help with relaxation and regulation (Shroff).

Teen depression needs to be more recognized between each and every individual.  Whether one should be looking out for a loved one or themselves the signs can go unnoticed very easily and it is vital to keep a close eye with even the smallest sense of a symptom such as backlashes and loss of appetite (Shroff).  Suspecting these behaviors should be brought to the attention of a professional in order to give a proper diagnosis of the depression whether it be a chemical imbalance or tragedy within a teen’s life.  Diagnosis can be determined throughout the different test done and observed thoroughly (Mayo).  These reasons as to why the teen may be depressed is evaluated by talking and interviewing him/her.  This examines the different aspects and experiences they have been through and how it affected how they think and function. Knowing why or how they teen may have become depressed, can be vital to determine the right path of treatment and what family and friends can do in order to help the teen get through this point in their life (W.).  Loved ones play a major role in the recovery process in one’s life.  This can help with support and encouragement from the ones whom mean the most to them can speed up recovery and get them back to their normal self.  This can not only help with the process but help in the decisions of treatments and paths to take in order to defeat the depression appropriately (Shroff).  The variety of treatments to control and eliminate the disease are determined and put to use for the complete benefit of one suffering.  The path taken is chosen by why a teen may be depressed and how severe or mild the case is.  A professional will advise the best analysis and discuss the types of therapy that will be most effective (Mayo). 
Knowledge of teenage depression amongst every person can save another teen’s life every day.  This topic is a growing, more common disease and should be more widely recognized due to its severe result in most cases due to lack of being noticed before it’s too late.  One day this may be eliminated by educating others and one’s self.