Depression affects millions of people in the US. Similarly, teens can suffer situational depression due to traumatic events or significant changes in their lives. Fortunately, teens struggling with this mental disorder can get help from an adolescent treatment center where professionals understand what they are going through. Foothills at Red Oak Recovery offers useful insights to help parents understand the disorder and know when to take action for the sake of their children’s mental health. To learn more about this vital topic, reach out to our adolescent treatment center in North Carolina today at 866.300.5275.

What Is Situational Depression?

The condition, which is also known as adjustment disorder, occurs primarily because of significant life changes. Teens are at a delicate stage in their lives, and such changes can lead to a depressive mood. As such, many teens are unable to handle specific life events.

Statistics reveal that the triggers of teen depression vary, but they can impact children psychologically and emotionally. When the condition is left treated, the teens can become dysfunctional in their daily lives.

Fortunately, holistic treatment programs offer parents the opportunity of examining the situation and choosing an ideal treatment technique, such as:

Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy focuses on creating and exploring experiences as a way to help teens gain insight, learn new skills, and develop empathy. It typically uses activities such as art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, adventure-based therapies, and other forms of experiential learning to help individuals understand their feelings, create emotional regulation, and develop positive changes.

Trauma Therapy

Trauma therapy helps teens process and heal from experiences that have left them feeling emotionally overwhelmed or traumatized. The goal of trauma therapy is to assist individuals in understanding, accepting, and integrating past traumatic events into their lives so they can move forward in a healthier way.

Family Therapy

Family therapy focuses on family relationships and dynamics as they relate to a teen’s mental health. It provides an opportunity for family members to come together and discuss their issues in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) centers around changing negative thought patterns and associated behaviors. It helps teens understand how their thoughts, feelings, and actions interact to affect their mental health.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on helping teens learn to accept themselves and their experiences. DBT helps individuals identify, understand, and change patterns of thinking and behaving that interfere with mental health.

Understanding the Symptoms

This condition’s symptoms may be similar to clinical depression, but the severity differs from one person to another. The uncomfortable feelings caused by situational depression can impact a child’s functioning physically, emotionally, and behaviorally. Teens can display several warning signs, including:

• Persistent headaches
• Lack of energy and unexplained fatigue
• Social isolation and detachment
• Disrupted sleeping habits
• Heart palpitations
• Sadness
• Anxiety

Helping Your Teen to Cope

While situational depression in teens occurs due to a particular life event, it can cause a range of problems. Therefore, you should seek proper treatment immediately. If it continues for the long-term, your child has an increased risk of severe depression. According to statistics, some teens tend to engage in drug and alcohol abuse to alleviate uncomfortable symptoms. In such cases, they may need a dual diagnosis treatment program to address both issues.

Consider professional therapy or counseling before the symptoms deteriorate. Depression may need medication and holistic healing. Therapists also recommend several coping mechanisms.

It is crucial to ensure that your teen avoids social isolation. Many children can suffer without seeking help from their loved ones. If you notice behavioral changes in your child, talk to the teen, and investigate what could be wrong. Proper communication can help you identify the problem and act immediately. Social isolation can worsen the situation, but interacting with supportive individuals facilitates healing.

Self-care is vital when it comes to dealing with situational depression in teens. Children can have personalized routines that include engaging and favorite activities. Encourage these activities because they can help your teen to focus on positive goals and prevent triggers.

Ask yourself: What is working best for your teen’s situation? Note down what is an effective solution according to the symptoms of your loved one. Stress and depression can magnify negative energy, and you may fail to identify what is working well. Exercise can help your teen to replace bad habits with good ones.

Seek Professional Help at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery

If you notice extreme behavioral changes in your teen, seek professional help before the symptoms escalate. Some parents fail to understand what is wrong with their children, only to realize that the problem is situational depression.

If you do not want your teen to slack and lose potential opportunities in life, consult a therapist for an evaluation. Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery at 866.300.5275 to learn more about teen depression treatment programs.