What Causes Depression in Teens?

Most adults, when they think about depression, will picture it as being experienced by another adult. However, children and teenagers can also experience depression. Which might be hard to wrap their head around because what could these age groups have to worry about?

After all, they aren't dealing with finances, careers, or uncertainty about the future, right? Well, teens might not have these things to worry about right now, but that doesn't mean these topics don't cross their minds. Additionally, teenagers can experience depression for other reasons, as well.

What Causes Depression In Teens?

Uncertainty About the Future

It might not seem like they are paying attention, but they actually are. While teens aren't always the most receptive, they pick up on a lot more than adults give them credit for. While teenagers might not have to worry about things like mortgages, bills, and utilities, they know that is an inevitable part of their future. During these economic times, they aren't oblivious to what is happening around them. So, many teens can feel hopeless or depressed about how uncertain things might be for them when they become adults.

Self-Esteem Issues

Let's face it: most of us are struggling with self-esteem issues. After all, we live in a society that shows us picture-perfect models, celebrities, and influencers on our social media feeds every minute of every hour.

This can be highly confusing for the teen who is still learning who they are and their place in this world. With the media and their peers sending mixed messages of beauty standards, this can cause any teen to struggle with self-esteem issues. In some teens, however, these issues take a deep root in their subconscious, causing them to feel awful about themselves. Worsening this issue is when they are grappling with changing bodies, hormones, and voices.

It's also not uncommon for these years to be filled with snide remarks about their weight, height, or general appearance, both in the classroom and on their social media profiles as well.

Differences In Brain Chemistry

While the brain is always growing and shifting throughout a lifetime, it experiences rapid changes during the pre-teen and teen years. During these years, certain areas of the brain have yet to be fully developed. This causes them to have trouble with skills such as emotional regulation, so they can be moody one week and not the next.

While they might not be able to feel these changes happening, they can cause teens to experience many negative symptoms and behaviors. A teen might feel overwhelming amounts of sadness for no reason or indulge in risky behaviors. In addition to the typical growing pains that happen in the teenage years, this can be difficult for someone to handle all at once.

Unhealthy Coping Skills

Through no fault of their own, teens often develop habits that we wish they hadn't. Unfortunately, some of these habits can be attributed to their inability to fully regulate their emotions. So, they indulge in behaviors such as drinking, sneaking out, or other things that can make them feel good in the moment.

It's no different than an adult who struggles with unhealthy coping mechanisms. We do things we shouldn't because they make us feel better at the time. However, these unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as overeating, sneaking out, or drinking, inevitably only make them feel worse over time, potentially leading to depression. Even if they don't fully realize that's what is contributing to their depression symptoms.

How To Help Your Teen With Depression

Depression, at any age, is really hard to cope with by yourself. While external factors might contribute to these feelings, they shouldn't be taken lightly or dismissed. If you believe your teen is suffering from depression or you are yourself, don't hesitate to reach out for support. Teen counseling, or depression treatment, can help provide relief.