Treatment for Depression in Teenagers / Adolescents from Kaynaz Nasseri, LA

Treatment for Depression in Teenagers / Adolescents

As a rule, teenagers or adolescents with depression do not respond to parental attempts to encourage them to think positively. Teenagers and adolescents very often require professional help from a psychologist and therapist to surpass their symptoms. Ruling out a physical disorder, or treating it if one is found, is the first necessary step in helping to relieve your teenager's feeling of disappointment .

Psychologists today use many diverse approaches to treating depression. For the more severe cases, the most typical outpatient technique is to blend antidepressant medication with psychotherapy. All of these drugs have minor unpleasant side effects, but those for whom the treatment bring relief from depression are usually glad to tolerate them. Psychotherapy should always accompany pharmacological healing . As the antidepressant betters the underlying moods, the reasons for the despondency must be explored, maladaptive patterns examined , and efforts to make necessary changes supported.

Psychotherapy by itself works well with teenagers who have mild to moderate depression. Psychologists  advocate that depression results from a negative mind set. Treatment focuses on teaching the teenagers to modify their negative view of the world in keeping with reality. The most impelling method in altering the teenager’s thinking is applying cognitive-behavioral techniques. The teenagers learn how their thinking perpetuates their depression, and the psychologists alter these depression-producing thoughts . The teenagers also master techniques to relax and improve their social skills. They become aware of the value of pleasurable activities and inject these into their lives; and they learn how to use these new inputs and mannerism in their day-to-day life.

It is hard for anyone who has been dejected to imagine feeling good again and enjoying the feelings of normalcy. More so, teenagers are far less willing than other age groups to accept the proposal that they might benefit from psycho-therapy or even consultation from a psychologist. Even when the proof of their problems and unhappiness is unobjectionable , a large proportion will resist seeing a therapist or other mental health professional. These difficulties should not mean that psycho-therapy should be averted , or once attempted that it is doomed. The initiation of psycho-therapy has to be a joint effort by the parent and their teenager working in space. Such therapy takes time and much patience.