Is a Teen Depressed or Just Moody?

Is a Teen Depressed or Just Moody?

In the article "Is a Teen Depressed or Just Moody?" The New York Times writer Perry Klass, M.D. made me think hard about the rise in adolescent melancholy and suicide in recent years. It is unfortunate that a substantial number of teenagers at such young ages are dealing with mental issues. According to the study, girls had a greater prevalence of depression than boys. Some circumstances make girls more vulnerable. Parents should be on the lookout for pubertal changes, negative thinking, close connections, and antisocial behavior, and low self-esteem in their daughters. Girls are prone to emotional issues, therefore parents must be more watchful for them. I believe that psychiatrists should do more research and therapies in collaboration with parents in order to assist this significant number of teenagers.

I agree with Dr. Benjamin Shain that parents should pay more attention to the symptoms that their children exhibit. Parents are the basic and guiding force in assisting and saving their children from suicide. Overall, if you observe a kid as a parent and suspect that your child is exhibiting these symptoms, "the first thing is to sit down and have a dialogue with your child; ask them what's going on.” Talking with instructors or bringing your child to a counselor or psychiatrist might be the next step (Klass 2017).Furthermore, parents must seek expert support at school or from a psychologist in order to help their children correctly.

I think that parents should not only give counsel to their children, but they should also show care for teenagers. Listening to depressed children is the most effective approach to assist them. They will be more receptive to communicating if they see their parents listening. Parents should also be aware that depressed teenagers might be irritable and moody. When speaking to their children, parents must select their words carefully. To demonstrate that parents understand their children, they must first listen to them and then respond to them correctly. As a result, strive to tackle such difficulties with the help of your parents.

Also Read: Mental Health Nursing

According to what Dr. Mojtavi mentioned, when conducting research in teenagers, psychologists should gather as much information as possible since it will aid in determining the origin and location of the issues in order to find a more flexible solution. I agree with Dr. Shain that parents should learn how to utilize technology and social media to detect and respond to cyberbullying in their children. Parents must be aware of who their teenagers are communicating with and when and how they meet their pals. It will aid parents in the prevention of depression and suicide. Also, I believe that taking mobile phones from their children would be ineffective since it allows teens to communicate with people in whom they have greater confidence. Children nowadays have far too much planned time, and they spend far too much time indoors on devices. They also need to connect with nature, get more exercise, and engage with people. It will enable them to avoid being cooped up in a room, ruminating on their issues. Parents should interact with their children more, participate in sports, and go for daily walks with them.

In some trials, exercise was shown to be as beneficial as antidepressants in treating mild to severe depression. I believe that parents should educate themselves on the causes and repercussions of adolescent depression. It will assist them in being more conscious of their children's actions and habits. Having poor behaviors might indicate that their children are depressed. Drug and alcohol abuse appear to be connected to depression. Some youngsters seek an escape and seek refuge in drugs or alcohol, which exacerbates the issue. Furthermore, parents should be concerned for their children. Parents that lead hectic lives do not spend enough time with their children, making them feel neglected. Children require love in the form of words, deeds, and physical touch. They need to know they can rely on someone.

References

Klass, Perri. “Is a Teen Depressed, or Just Moody?” NY Times. 13 Feb 2017.

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