Teen Psychological Issues

One out of every five teenagers has some type of mental illness every year, reports the American Psychological Association. It is common for teens to experience mental illness and not be treated for it. Many teens are ashamed of what they are feeling or do not fully understand that what they are experiencing is abnormal, so they do nothing about it. According to the APA, suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers.

Depression

• Depression symptoms go beyond short periods of sadness or hopelessness. Depression interferes with everyday things, and for longer periods of time. You feel hopeless and have trouble concentrating on a regular basis. Depression can also interfere with eating and sleeping habits. Some people overeat or oversleep, while others stop eating or experience insomnia. Symptoms in teenagers are the same as those in adults, but teenagers are at a higher risk of suicide, says the APA.

Eating Disorders

• One out of every three teenagers suffers from an eating disorder, says the Kids Health website. Eating disorders include anorexia, an illness that causes a psychological fear of gaining weight and results in the person to depriving herself of food. Bulimia, an illness much like anorexia, causes excessive and abnormal binge eating, vomiting and exercise patterns. Symptoms of anorexia and bulimia can be difficult to discover in teens. Some signs include sudden weight loss or weight gain, obsession with measuring out food, withdrawal and excessive exercise or dieting.

Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a disorder that primarily affects adults. When bipolar disorder affects children, it can be difficult to diagnose due to the wide spectrum of symptoms in teens. Bipolar disorder is a depressive condition that when left untreated causes uncontrollable mood swings, anxiety and sleep deprivation.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Generalized anxiety disorder causes extreme worry for no apparent reason. This is different than normal anxiety over a test for school or meeting someone new. The fear causes you to hyperventilate, and you can become so fearful that it prevents you from completing a task. Generalized anxiety disorder affects people of all ages. In teens, the disorder causes intense fear, nausea, headaches, shortness of breath and chest pain.