What Are the Causes of Teenage Depression & How does it Manifest?

Teenage depression has many causes, some of which include parents' divorce, a bad breakup, pressure to perform in school and dissatisfaction with body image. As a result, this depression manifests itself in various ways.

Difficulty in School

• One of the main signs of teenage depression is a struggle in academics. Often the teenager will miss class frequently, lash out at teachers or fellow students or miss important assignments.

Social Isolation

• When teenagers get depressed, they start to isolate themselves from family and friends. Some parents will notice that their children don't get as excited as they used to be about school activities, and friends wonder why they don't call or visit as much as before.

Overeating

• Another manifestation of teenage depression is overeating. In some cases teenagers turn to food for comfort because they may have experienced rejection from their peers and they feel that food is the one friend that won't turn them away.

Eating Less

• In situations where teenage depression is caused by body self-image issues, they develop eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. They want the approval of their parents, friends and society, and under pressure they try to conform to these standards.

Drug Abuse

• When the pressures of life get tough for some teenagers, they see drugs as their way to numb the emotional pain. But they also do it because they want a sense of belonging from their peers that they may not get at home.