Most people experience adversity at some time in their life, and while many people can work their way through difficult experiences, others need professional guidance to cope with whatever has befallen them. http://www.centreforhumanpotential.com.au

1. The Hidden Signs of Teen Depression
Most people experience adversity at some time in their life, and while many people can work their way
through difficult experiences, others need professional guidance to cope with whatever has befallen
them. The Centre for Human Potential has professional counselling Brisbane services available to help
people in situations where they feel overwhelmed and unable to solve their own problems.
Sadly, an area where the Centre for Human Potential has experienced an increased demand for their
services is depression and anxiety in teenagers. The teenage years are a difficult period in the human
journey, due largely to the numerous changes taking place, not only in their bodies but their lives in
general. Teenagers are coping with increased study loads, future career aspirations, the expectations of
parents and society in general, acceptance by their peer group and concerns about their appearance.
Most teenagers make a reasonably successful transition to adulthood. They find a balance in meaningful
relationships with family and friends, success at school, sport or community activities, and a sound sense
of self. Others, however, struggle with the pressure, but because normal, healthy teenagers can be
moody and volatile anyway, recognizing depression and anxiety in teenagers is often difficult.
Depression is harder to recognise in teenagers than adults because the symptoms can be different.
Rather than appearing sad and melancholy, a teenager can be uncharacteristically irritable and angry to
a level that is more than “moodiness.” They may have unexplained aches and pains, like headaches and
stomach aches. If a medical examination doesn’t find any physical cause, depression should be
considered.
More than at other life stages, the teenage years are hard on self-esteem, and while criticism can be
difficult for all teens, depressed teens are super-sensitive to it. They struggle with feelings of
worthlessness that are out of proportion to their real situation and are very vulnerable to rejection and
failure.
This is another little-known sign of teenage depression. Teenagers will withdraw from some
relationships, especially from parents, but still hang out with some people. If they happen to connect
with an unknown group who has no history with the teen, they can easily get involved in risk-taking
behaviour, without old friends to pull them back.
All of these behaviours can be a normal part of teenage development. However, if they persist for any
length of time, and have an adverse effect on their relationships, study, and social activities, the use of
psychology Brisbane in the hands of the professionals at the Centre for Human Potential is essential to
steer the young person back to normality.
http://www.centreforhumanpotential.com.au