Dr. Ana Aznar
Question:
Is teenage depression just a school-age fad these days? It seems like my granddaughter has everything she could ever want—makeup, movie subscriptions, the iPad, a phone, so many clothes, etc.—but she's still saying she's depressed.
Dr. Ana’s Answer:
Teenagers also get depressed. It is not a fad. Depression symptoms are sadness or a low mood that does not go away, being irritable or grumpy all the time, feeling tired a lot of the time, and not being interested in things they used to enjoy. Teenagers going through depression also may have trouble sleeping or may sleep more than usual, they may have trouble concentrating, eat less than usual or eat more than usual, spend less time with their friends and family, have thoughts about suicide or self-harm, or actually self-harm.
I know that it is difficult to understand why someone that seems to have everything is depressed, but depression may happen for many different reasons. It may be that your granddaughter has a tendency to get depressed. She may also be experiencing difficult evens, without you knowing. She could have experienced bullying, have problems with friends, or have gone through a bad break up.
It is important that you take her feelings seriously. Try to find what is troubling her. It may not be a big thing to you, but it may feel like something major for her. If she does not want to talk to you, encourage her to talk to other people in her life. I also encourage you to get help early from your doctor or a mental health specialist with expertise in teen mood disorders. The longer it goes on, the more chances that it may become a long-term problem.
I hope this information helps. I wish you and your granddaughter all the very best.
Love,
Ana
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