By Pablee Wong, MC, RCC, RMFT, RPT-S

It is impossible to avoid ups and downs in our lives. Feeling sad, angry and frustrated towards disappointments are normal aspects of human experiences. We often use the word “depressed”, yet as parents, do you know the signs of depression? Is your teenage son or daughter depressed?

Every year, more than one million Canadians are affected by depression. Depression can be an exhausting and debilitating experience. People suffering from a depressive episode will often display a variety of physical symptoms. A depressed person may complain of feeling sad or blue. However, not everyone can recognize symptoms of depression especially if they have never experienced a depressive episode before.

If your daughter or son may be depressed, he or she is likely to experience most of the following symptoms for more than 2 weeks. He or she will experience these symptoms for most of the day which impairs their performance at home and at school.

Symptoms of Depression include:

Emotional Symptoms:

  • Feeling sad or blue
  • Withdrawal from friends or family members
  • Lack of motivation and interest in work , hobbies, other activities they used to enjoy (You may interpret this as laziness)
  • Easily annoyed, agitated or irritated
  • Feeling worthless, helpless, useless, hopeless or meaningless
  • Trouble concentrating, focusing or remembering things
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Easily teary, feel like crying or crying spells for no apparent reason
  • Thoughts of dying, hurting oneself or suicide (please see our article on Warning Signs of Suicide)
  • In extreme cases - have delusions or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)

Physical Symptoms:

  • Changes in appetite (either over-eating or not eating enough)
  • Changes in sleep pattern (over-sleeping or insomnia)
  • Headaches, back pain
  • Nausea & lightheadedness
  • Fatigue, easily tired, lack of energy
  • Stomachache, cramps or ulcers
  • Other unexplained physical problems

If your son or daughter is experiencing most of the above symptoms for more than a few weeks, you should seek professional help immediately. Please talk to your family doctor about their condition for options regarding medical treatment. You may also consult a therapist or counsellor for individual or family counselling support.

The Vancouver Wishing Wells Counselling Service provides counselling support in the Vancouver area. Our counselling services include Individual Counselling, Couples & Family Counselling, Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, Child Behavior Consultation and Support, and Counselling for Adolescence. Should you need to discuss with one of our therapists for consultation, please Contact Us for more information.

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