Find a Treatment Center for My Depressed Child in Southern California – Teen Depression Treatment
Children, from a young age into their teens, are known to be a rebellious lot, often sulking and quite emotional. However, as a parent you’ll have to be very careful not to confuse your teen’s depression with a normal teenage experience. 
You’ll hear most parents ask “and what is she supposed to be depressed over?” This already tells you that the parent imagines that childhood should be a carefree, stress free period. What these parents fail to understand is that even children worry about things like grades, peer acceptance, and even parental acceptance. No child wants to live with these pressures from one day to the next. The good news is that depression is very treatable.
Causes of Depression in Children
Depression in children is a bit different from adult depression because it is almost impossible to establish the exact cause of the depression. There are no tests that can tell whether or not the child is depressed, nor are there tests to pinpoint the causes.
There are, however, several predisposing factors that you should be aware of. These include a history of mental illnesses in the family, the loss of a parent at an early age, abandonment, divorce, and chronic illnesses.
Signs and Symptoms
Depression is rather personal, so you should not expect two children to exhibit similar signs or symptoms. A depressed child will possess one or more of the symptoms below.
- Extended period of irritability and/or sadness
- Low self-esteem characterized by statements such as “I am stupid”
- Losing interest in activities he or she used to enjoy
- Altered appetite, eating either too much or too little
- Lack of or too much sleep
- Struggles to concentrate
- Emotional, angry
- Physical pains such as head and stomach aches
- Recurring thoughts and mentions of suicide and/or death
What to Do
If you live in southern California, take the child to Visions Treatment Center immediately if you notice the symptoms named above. Doctors usually provide both medication and psychotherapy to deal with depression. Medication helps free the child of symptoms if the depression is caused, wholly or in part, by psychological factors. Therapy may help them deal with their past in a healthy way while arming them with skills to cope with the stresses of growing up.
Call 866-889-3665 to talk to our specialist about teen depression treatment.
Originally posted on April 17, 2014 @ 8:43 am
