The emotionally and hormonally charged teenage years are ripe with mood swings and mild dramatic events that often seem larger than life.
While there are many highs and lows that accompany normal teen anxiety, there are a number of under-diagnosed teens that are falling through the cracks: victims of oversight who ultimately end up deep in the throes of depression and become prime candidates for teen suicide. As a true mental health crisis, it’s time that mental illness in teens stops being over-looked, and starts being treated properly.
How Can I Help My Teen?
Teenagers who suffer from depression are experiencing more than just normal mood swings. As a matter of fact, the highly regarded Wingate Wilderness Therapy program notes in their article on the subject that if the warning signs of depression last more than two weeks, that “professional mental counseling should be sought.” But, what are some of the signs that depression has taken hold?
A teen who is suffering through a mental illness like depression may exhibit some of the following behavioral clues or symptoms of depression:
- Sudden changes in mood or rebellious behavior
- Dramatic changes in weight or eating habits
- Fatigue and/or insomnia
- Being late for school and faltering grades
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Drastic behavioral changes
- Giving away of personal possessions
- Negative self-talk and casual suggestions of “ending things.”
Once you have identified that your teen needs help, you still have to decide what to do. After all, even when depression is diagnosed, the first response from some medical professionals is to instantly prescribe medication. This doesn’t always help the problem.
What Can I Do for My Teen’s Depression?
It’s time that our teens stopped being under-managed by healthcare professionals looking for a quick fix through meds. Admittedly, sometimes medication is necessary, but it certainly isn't the only alternative to deep, depressive states. Plus, what doctors sometimes don’t discuss in detail are the side effects. A mere Band-Aid for a mental illness challenges isn’t appropriate without providing the functional therapy that should go with it.
Once of the best solutions for teen depression is to get them into a therapy program that has a great success rate. At Wingate Wilderness Therapy, they offer a program designed to help both depressed and other troubled teens to better cope with the anxiety that is plaguing them. They recognize that not all depression is manifested the same in each individual, and they teach them the life skills they need to pull through it and manage any recurring issues more efficiently in the future: with, or without, medication.
Not everyone can avoid taking medication for mental illness, but our teenagers deserve to try every other method first. Wingate Wilderness may be just the solution they need.
Wingate Wilderness Therapy is designed to help teens and young adults rediscover themselves and the world around them. Our highly-sought after program reconnects your son or daughter back to nature and the love and commitment of their family. To find out more, call us today at (800) 560-1599.