Solutions for Depressed or Anxious Teens
How Teenagers Can Get Help for Feelings of Depression and Anxiety
Oct 19, 2009
Getting help for depressed or anxious teenagers involves recognizing the difference between depression and anxiety. Here’s a brief description of the difference between feelings of depression versus feelings of anxiety, plus solutions for depressed teens who can’t ask their parents for help.
Feelings of Depression in Teenagers
Feelings of depression can involve emotional symptoms, such as sadness, irritability, helplessness, and loss of pleasure in life.
Depressed teens may be self-critical, fatigued, withdrawn, and unmotivated. For more information on depression, read Recognizing the Signs of Depression.
Feelings of Anxiety in Teenagers
Feelings of anxiety in teenagers can involve a chronic, irrational, intense worry that may inhibit everyday functioning. Physical symptoms of anxiety can include muscle tension, headaches, trembling, twitching, sweating, or headaches. Anxious teens may also be easily fatigued, have difficulty concentrating, feel irritable and tense, and have trouble sleeping.
Psychology researchers agree that though feelings of depression and anxiety in adolescents and teens are strongly related, they’re not the same thing.
How to Get Help for Feelings of Depression and Anxiety
Talking to an adult is the best way for teenagers to get help for feelings of depression and anxiety – but talking to parents or other adults can be difficult or even distasteful for teens! These solutions for depressed or anxious teens may help.
- Focus on the reasons to get help for depression and anxiety. Feeling sad, tense, unmotivated, and listless about life is no way to live! Talking to an adult or getting help for depression may cause discomfort or even increased anxiety levels, but it’s better than constantly struggling with feelings of depression or anxiety. To get help, focus on the goal (a happy, fulfilled, motivated life) instead of the difficulties of obstacles.
- Remember that teenage depression is not abnormal or "weird." There are many, many depressed or anxious teens who hide how they feel and refuse to get help. Fellow classmates, team members, and club members may be depressed or anxious, and may also be too nervous, scared, or stubborn to reach out for help. Depressed teens may find comfort in the fact that feelings of depression and anxiety are (unfortunately) common in teenagers and adults.
- Remember that depressed and anxious feelings can be treated. Depressed or anxious teens may feel hopeless and alone, and not realize that depression and anxiety are treatable. However, feelings don’t always just “go away” on their own – which means teenagers need to take charge of their emotional health.
- Learn healthy ways to express feelings. Often when teenagers talk about feelings of depression and anxiety, they feel better. Simply expressing emotions can make teens feel lighter and less burdened. Hiding or suppressing feelings can make those emotions overwhelming and more powerful than they really are. Healthy ways to express feelings include drawing, writing, painting, exercising, talking to friends, singing, or playing an instrument. Anything that helps release feelings of anxiety and depression can help teenagers feel better.
- Talk to a peer mentor or trusted friend. If talking to a parent or adult about depressed or anxious feelings of depression isn’t an option, then teenagers need to find someone else who can help. Simply talking to a teacher, peer mentor, responsible friend, team coach, or guidance counselor can relieve mild depression or anxiety. And, a trusted, responsible person can help teenagers figure out if they need more in-depth help.
The first steps of getting help for teenagers may be the hardest part of finding solutions for feelings of depression and anxiety. The sooner teens realize that reaching out for help is the best way to get help, the happier and more empowered they’ll be.
Related Reading for Teens and Adolescents With Depression
Help for Depressed Teenagers describes three ways for adolescents to cope with depression, and links to an article about treatments for depressed teens.
Resources for Overcoming Depression is a list of 17 articles to help teenagers and adults cope with depressed feelings.
Sources:
- Source of the information about feelings of anxiety: Anxiety: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, PsychCentral.
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