What’s going on inside your head?
What’s wrong with me?
What’s going on inside your head?
What’s wrong with me?
Reviewed by Stéphanie Deslauriers,
psychoeducator, speaker, and author
October 2020
Lately, you haven’t felt like yourself: you’re more anxious, tired, and irritable than normal—and that has you worried. Or, maybe you haven’t noticed anything different about yourself, but a friend or family member pointed out a change in your behaviour, and you’ve been thinking about it ever since.
How to tell if you’re sad or depressed
When you’re going through a tough time (e.g., starting high school, a fight with a friend, a break-up, or your parents’ separation) it’s normal to feel sad, anxious, angry, or tired. But then you focus on other things and, after a while, you perk up and start to feel better. This is known as sadness or having the blues.
Everyone goes through it at some point. And while it may not be fun, it means that you’re human and that you feel emotions. These bouts of the blues can also serve a purpose because they give us an opportunity to self-reflect, make better decisions in the future, and develop new coping strategies.
When you’re depressed, on the other hand, you experience many of the same symptoms listed above, but more intensely and without an improvement over time. Sometimes, the symptoms can even get worse.
What are the signs of depression in teens?
One sign that can help you recognize depression is a break in your behaviour patterns. That’s when you change (gradually or suddenly) and, as a result, you’re no longer able to function like before at school, at home or with your friends. Your emotions, your behaviour and your way of thinking all change. Everything seems more intense and more difficult, and you feel like there’s no way you can handle all the challenges that life is throwing at you.
What’s more, the things you usually enjoy no longer make you happy. You think things will never get better, which can cause a feeling of hopelessness and an emptiness inside.
And because there’s such a big difference between how you felt before compared to what you’re experiencing now, you no longer recognize yourself.
Here are the 13 signs and symptoms of depression in teens.
If these symptoms persist, become more intense or prevent you from functioning in the different areas of your life, and there’s no sign of improvement, you might be going through a depression.
Here are the 13 signs and symptoms of depression in teens.
If these symptoms persist, become more intense, or prevent you from functioning in different areas of your life, and there’s no sign of improvement, you might be going through depression.
Be careful not to self-diagnose:
As you can see, it’s easy to identify with the signs of depression, as some are similar to regular personality traits or overlap with symptoms of temporary sadness or the blues (which, as mentioned earlier, will go away with time).
In addition, having trouble concentrating, feeling tired all the time, and feeling sluggish or apathetic can also be symptoms of mononucleosis, anemia, diabetes, or a thyroid disorder. That’s why it’s important to talk with a doctor or psychologist (lien vers la page Ressource) when you notice a change in your behaviour.
Taking this step can be challenging, but keep in mind that you need to persevere, because depression is reversible.
What are the risk factors for depression in teens?
Depression in teens can be caused by a multitude of factors that influence one another:
- Issues with family or friends
- Bullying of any kind
- Pressure to succeed
- Drug or alcohol use
- Questioning your sexual orientation or gender identity
- Genetics (if one of your parents has a history of depression, you’re slightly more at risk; but that just means you’re predisposed, as with many other illnesses)
The causes of depression are different for everyone, and sometimes you may not even know the cause—that’s why it’s important not to judge what others are going through.
Why don’t you always feel like talking about it🤭 ?
Sometimes, when things aren’t going well, you don’t feel like talking about it. When you’re suffering from depression, you can feel the same way. You might also be afraid of being judged, not want to worry other people, or simply think these feelings will go away with time. Also, if you don’t understand what’s going on with you, you might have trouble expressing what you’re feeling. Keep in mind that talking about it is the first step to getting better.
That’s why, when you’re with someone who’s going through depression, it’s important to listen 🙋 🙋♂️ without judging them.
Want to do a quick mental health check-in?✋
Take this quiz to get an idea of where you’re at. Remember, if your situation is weighing on you and preventing you from functioning normally, you don’t have to suffer—there are many solutions available.
DEPRESSION TEST
``AM I DEPRESSED?``
Take this test to get some insight into how you’re doing:
Get startedNeed to talk about how you feel?
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Learn about the contributor’s book
Éli : comprendre la dépression à l’adolescence – Stéphanie Deslauriers, Psychoeducator, speaker, and writer
This book is a practical guide that can help teens recognize the signs and risks of depression, feel less alone and, above all, find concrete tips for how to rebuild a positive self-image and move forward.
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