Is My Teenager Depressed or Just Moody? 8 Questions to Consider Before Getting Help

Teenagers are supposed to be moody, right? One moment they are happy and laughing about a silly Youtube video and the next they are slamming their door to their room and crying into their pillow.  You tell yourself “Its just hormones,” and try to brush it off. Chances are you are right. Most teenagers do fluctuate in mood to some extent and that is normal. I have a friend who even nicknamed her teen the “Threen-ager” because her daughter resorted to teen meltdowns when she didn’t get her way. But how do you know if your teen is just moody or if he or she is depressed or even anxious? Knowing the difference could save your teens life. Here are six questions to consider when assessing your teenagers angst. Does your teen sleep too much?  Most teenagers are known for staying up late and sleeping until noon especially on the weekends.  Your teen’s sleep cycle does naturally shift to a later bedtime because they are releasing sleep hormones such as melatonin later in the evening (usually around 10pm) causing them to not get tired until much later in the evening.  Most teens need anywhere from 8 to 10 hours of sleep to feel good and function well. If your teen is getting 12 or more hours of sleep on a regular basis this could indicate that something is off. It’s always important to rule out a medical condition that can cause lethargy, such as hypothyroidism, but if there are no medical conditions, too much sleep can be a symptom of depression.  Some kids use sl...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Children and Teens Depression Parenting School Issues Students Suicide Source Type: news