Is your teenager isolating themselves in their bedroom for too long, skipping dinner, or barely speaking to you and their close family or friends? If so, you may be asking if this is normal teenage behavior. Eventually, you may start to wonder whether your teen is stressed or depressed. These are some of the most common questions parents have when trying to understand their adolescent(s). Exploring the difference between stress and depression is worth it, and being aware of the difference will help you understand your teen’s emotional needs and eventually find the right support your teen may need.
What Does Stress Look Like in Teens?
Stress is a completely normal response to life’s challenges. Nowadays, teens juggle many demands in their daily lives, including academic expectations, sports, extracurricular activities, friendships, social pressure, family conflicts, and college/future planning. All of this tends to add up, and it can start to feel overwhelming for a teen.
Common signs of stress in teens include:
- Feeling overwhelmed, worried, frustrated, and burned out
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in sleep and eating patterns (difficulty falling asleep or sleeping too much)
- Irritability or moodiness that comes and goes
- Headaches, stomachaches, or lack of energy
Even though stress can be uncomfortable, teens experiencing it often continue to find enjoyment in their activities and can express the reasons behind their emotions, usually saying, “This is a lot.” They can typically return to their usual selves once their stress is managed or decreased. But these symptoms can still appear at times depending on their workload. With rest, support, and a healing cry – yes, it is okay to cry- things can turn around. On the other hand, a stressed teen who does not get the right support could slide into depression over time.
What Does Depression Look Like in Teens?
Depression is not just an occasional sadness; it tends to last longer, at least two weeks. Depression feels heavier than stress, and it can negatively impact a teen’s ability to think, feel, and function in their daily lives. Depressed teens may have difficulty expressing the reason behind their feelings.
Common signs of depression in teens include:
- Persistent sadness, emptiness, and/or hopelessness
- Significant loss of interest in activities or hobbies that they used to enjoy
- Significant changes in sleep/appetite
- Low energy and motivation
- Difficulty with memory and concentrating
- Increased irritability or anger
- Expressing feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt (negative self-talk)
- Social isolation, withdrawing from family and friends
- Declining academic performance
Have you noticed any of these symptoms in the last two weeks or more? Are these symptoms impacting your teen’s performance at school, in social situations, and even at home? If the answer is yes, it’s important to consider a mental health screening and therapeutic support for your teen which can be done with a clinical therapist.
How Can Therapy Help My Teen?
Therapy provides teens with a safe, supportive, and confidential space to explore their thoughts and emotions. Many adolescents find it easier to open up to a neutral professional who can help them discover and understand what they are feeling and why. In therapy, they can learn to develop healthy coping skills for stress, anxiety, and depression. Eventually, therapy helps them build self-esteem and confidence, process difficult life experiences, and strengthen their communication style and organizational skills.
What Can Parents Do to Help Their Kids?
A parent’s role in supporting their teen is essential in making them feel safe and understood. Parents can help their teens understand that there is nothing wrong with them and encourage them to learn strategies to feel empowered to manage life’s challenges. There are many ways you can help your teen.
Some examples include:
- Promoting healthy conversations where your teen does not feel interrogated.
- Keeping calm and modeling healthy coping skills, such as talking things through, planning, or setting boundaries.
- Listening to your teen without feeling the pressure to fix things for them.
- Validate your teen’s emotions, avoid saying “that’s not bad” or “you are fine.” Instead, you can say, “I can understand why you are feeling this way.” Be empathetic by sharing your own experiences as a teen.
Pay close attention to your teen’s behavior; remember, behaviors can speak louder than words.
If symptoms persist or intensify, reach out for mental health support for your teen and the family.
Angela Manrique is a bilingual Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC). She offers therapy sessions both in English and Spanish at the Serenium Therapy & Wellness Hackensack location and virtually across all of New Jersey. She has a M.A. and Ed.S. and specializes in adolescent and adult mental health, with a particular focus on stress, anxiety, depression, and life adjustments. She works with individuals, teens, and families. Angela is passionate about helping people build the skills they need to navigate difficult emotions, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with themselves and the people they love.
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