Depression Among Middle Schoolers
How Parents Help Adolescents Find Healthy and Happy Lives
Your middle school child is stressed and moving towards depression. Find support here for identifying depression signs and ways to relieve stress
Dealing with Depression
As the joy of the holidays begins to fade away many begin slipping into less joyful moments. Slowly at first and then with greater momentum, holiday joy turns to depression. Almost without warning there is no way to explain why the sleeping sounds more appealing than tackling another day in the world.
Humans experience a range of emotions. Adults can see how these emotions cycle through their lives. With the wisdom to know that feeling down is a temporary state, they move forward hoping for brighter days.
Now imagine experiencing depression for the first time. Without the experience of knowing that this too will end, you are left wondering if it ever will. Adolescence is a time of change both physically and emotionally. The "emotional rollercoaster" as many parents describe it, characterizes the lives of adolescents around the nation. Small shifts happen. Your child is elated one moment and grumpy the next.
Be on the lookout for excessiveness grumpiness or reluctance to engage in activities that would normally bring your child joy.
You’ll be able to tell the difference between the occasional mood swing and true depression by watching out for the following nine warning signs:
Nine Signs of Depression
- Constant sadness and/or crying
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Loss of interest in regular activities
- Lack of energy
- Change in sleep patterns
- Change in eating habits
- Lack of interaction with friends
- Low self-esteem
- Inability to concentrate
Since prolonged stress often leads to depression, alleviating stress through proactive strategies minimizes his chances of becoming depressed. Below are ten tips for how you can help your teen to reduce stress in his life:
Ten Tips for Preventing Stress in Your Teen
- Have regularly scheduled family dinners. At dinner time, ask everyone to talk about what happened during the day – including at least one good thing. This can be small ("I didn't have to wait for the bus – it came right away") or major ("I got a B on my chemistry test").
- Be health-minded. Encourage the whole family to take care of the three basics – eating well, sleeping enough, and exercising.
- Make laughter a priority. Watch funny TV shows and movies together. When you hear a joke that you like, repeat it at home.
- Let go of negative feelings. When conflicts or bad moods seem to get out of hand, call for a time-out. Any argument can benefit from a walk around the block to cool off.
- Create quiet times. No TV, no music, no computer – just an environment conducive to meditation, reflection, reading, or rest. You may need to negotiate this with a teen who’s used to practically ‘round-the-clock sound.
- Pitch in. As a family, help one another. For example, if a teen is struggling to complete a school project, other family members can collate reports, staple exhibits on a display board, or bring in a snack.
- Celebrate. Not just birthdays, but accomplishments like a child's improved report card. No gifts are required; simply saying "congratulations," initiating a round of applause, or writing a note will get the point across.
- Welcome friends. Encourage your child to invite friends over and have them stay for dinner of a sleepover.
- Inspire. Talk with your child about goals, making plans, and thinking ahead. Show that you take your child's goals seriously and will do what you can to help.
- Create an action plan. Planning can help your child handle a worrisome challenge. Divide the task up into parts she can manage. A one-step-at-a-time approach divides and conquers anxiety.
