Relief For Childhood and Adolescent Depression

Young people today face a world of pressure that oftentimes goes unnoticed by their parents and grandparents. While many older generations consider many of the problems adolescents face today as normal, teenage blues, medical research has shown that many young people suffer from adolescent depression and other challenges that did exist when their parents were younger. If left untreated, adolescent depression can lead to larger problems such as poor grades, social withdrawal, behavior problems, drug and alcohol abuse, and may even continue into adulthood.

Beside the significant distress of being considered "underachievers" (which is seldom true), the frustration of children living with a behavioral or learning problem takes a toll on whole families. These young people can easily fall into depression, for one of two reasons:

(1) Due to not being able to control their own behavior, which only adds to their aggravation, depression can occur.
(2) Depression can be a side effect from chemicals in prescription medication used to treat many common behavioral issues.

More Physical Reasons for Depression

There are three key chemical neurotransmitters sending signals between our brain and central nervous system: Norepinephrine, Dopamine, and Serotonin. When these three are out of perfect balance, we aren't in control of our emotions. Especially a drop in Serotonin levels can affect our mood.

This can happen temporarily, as in sadness over a disappointment or grief. But it can also happen due to a physical shortage of proper neural connections, caused by a condition like hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), insomnia, menopause, alcoholism, or some other bodily factor. If it becomes long lasting, it can encourage depression.

Metabolic dysfunction is also a possibility when dealing with inexplicable teenage depression. This is a shortcoming in the person's reticular activating system, the center of consciousness which also coordinates learning and memory. Insufficient new neural connections cannot keep up with demands for new learning, memory, and the management of information processing.

These sufferers will find different ways to address their world, including: "shutting down", "tuning out", becoming hyperactive or assaultive, obsessively withdrawing into one task or not being able to pay attention at all, and many other reactions.

If you are concerned about your child's behavior, it is important to speak to your physician. He or she can help you identify the root of the problem and develop the best treatment plan to suit you and your child's needs.