Depression & Anxiety – Do Teens Really Needs More Counseling?

The teen years can be really tough, and it is normal to feel sad or irritable every now and then. But if these feelings become so intense that you feel hopeless and helpless, you may be suffering from depression.

It is important to note that teen depression is more than feeling sad or down in the dumps. It is a serious mood disorder that can change your daily life, the way you think and feel, causing problems at home, school, and in your social life.

Today, depression is far more common in teens than you may think. The increased social challenges, academic pressure, and hormonal changes of teenage years mean that about one in five of us suffer from depression and anxiety in our teens. You are not alone, and your depression isn’t a sign of weakness.

This post will discuss the most common reasons why teens nowadays need more counseling and therapy.

Depression

Many teens are suffering from self-esteem issues which in the end lead to depression. Those who are overly depressed, worried, sad, or shy can benefit from therapy because they need someone who will support and encourage them. In most cases, therapy is the first time someone really listens to them and helps them.

read more about best online counseling for depression.

Anxiety disorders 

Today’s teens get overly anxious, whether about speaking in front of the class, being confronted by a bully, or preparing for exams. Teens become so anxious that they, in some way, feel stuck and seek therapy to gain peace, courage, and confidence to overcome their fears.

Behavior Problems

Depression, anger, low self-esteem, sadness, and learning disabilities can result in teens making foolish decisions and cause harm to themselves and others. Individuals who want to stop their destructive habits such as addictions, eating disorders, overspending, nail-biting, using drugs, smoking, and self-harm can find success in therapy.

Substance Abuse Issues

It is very unfortunate that today, teens are prone to peer pressure and don’t always make the right decisions. Exposure to drug abuse and drinking often occurs during adolescence. Teens seek therapy to break free of the substance abuse, and addictions issues that they know are harming them.

Stress

The pressure to succeed in extracurricular activities or school can leave some teens burned out and overwhelmed. When teens go for therapy, they can learn time management skills and prioritize and set boundaries.

Legal Problems

Teenagers experience peer pressure and self-esteem problems, which further lead them to hang out with the wrong people and make terrible decisions. Teens who get into trouble with the law are usually encouraged to go to therapy. They decide therapy is their best option to stop and begin afresh.

School-Related Issues 

School can indeed be challenging for some teens, whether they have an attention or learning problem, get anxious, have behavioral issues such as anger, or being bullied. Some teens seek therapy because they struggle with self-confidence, making friends, or coping with peer pressure.

Low Self-Esteem

Teens need to feel accepted, loved, and worth listening to. They’re bombarded with bullying, peer pressure, and judgment. Therapy provides teenagers with low self-esteem a listening ear and a safe place to feel accepted and wanted.

Trauma 

Some teens have experienced traumatic events and need someone outside their family and friends to talk about them. Adolescents who have experienced a traumatic event seek listening ear, safety, and outside perspective of a therapist.

Grief

Like adults, therapy can help grieving teenagers walk through it and handle it more healthily. Grief can result from many causes such as divorce or separation of parents, death of a loved one, alcoholism or addiction of a parent, news of a chronic illness, or anything else. Some teens opt for some destructive coping strategies to push through the pain. Therapy provides grieving and hurting teenagers an outlet to process their feelings and make more sense of their situations. You may also want to look at stages of grief assessment.

Final Thoughts

A lot is happening in the lives of teens during their middle school and high school years. Today’s teens face so many stressful things, and family dynamics and social environment have also changed drastically over the past few years. So, they need more help than before. They seek therapy to help them handle and overcome a wide range of personal struggles.