Adolescent Depression & Anxiety What Parents Need to Know Presenter: Megan Propps, Licensed Professional Counselor Healing Tree Counseling

Adolescent Depression - Contributing Factors: Correlated with Anxiety Disorder, Eating disorders, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder Traumatic event or loss i.e. violence, sexual, emotional, physical abuse Critical or neglectful parenting Lack of social skills/learning disabilities Hormonal changes Substance abuse

Adolescent Depression - Contributing Factors cont’d… Normal teen stressors Peer pressures/breakup Gender or sexual identity/orientation anxiety Parent conflict due to quest for independence Failures at school/sports Feeling little control over stressful events i.e. family discord/poor health of family members Low self-esteem/sense of worth

Symptoms of Adolescent Depression Negative thinking i.e. seeing most things more negatively/highly critical of themselves or others Irritability Less interest in activities that they once enjoyed or looked forward to Lack of motivation Feeling low sense of self-worth

Symptoms of Adolescent Depression cont’d… Chronic feelings of unhappiness, worthlessness, and/or hopelessness Suicidal ideations Appetite changes/weight gain or loss Difficulty concentrating and sustaining mental effort Difficulty making decisions Mental fatigue Substance use

Symptoms of Adolescent Depression cont’d… Sleep disturbance or increased sleep/day sleeping Memory loss at times Anxiety Disorganization Conduct problems, i.e. difficulty following rules/curfew Isolation from family and/or friends Personality changes

Risks of Adolescent Depression Suicide/homicide Family and peer conflict Substance Abuse Negative effects on school or sports performance Aggression or reckless behaviors Other mental health problems

Adolescent Anxiety - Contributing Factors Correlated with Depression, Eating disorders, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder Traumatic event or loss i.e. violence, sexual, emotional, physical abuse Critical or neglectful parenting Lack of social skills/learning disabilities Substance abuse Family history of Anxiety

Adolescent Anxiety - Contributing Factors Normal teen stressors Peer pressures/breakup Social Anxiety Family discord Parental history of mental health/substance abuse problems Perfectionistic thinking Rigid or dichotomous thinking

Symptoms of Anxiety Chronic excessive worrying Restlessness Inability or difficulty calming down Irritability/sudden anger Headache/muscle tension/digestive problems Chest tightening/difficulty breathing Panic

Symptoms of Anxiety Irrational fears/nightmares Sleep disturbance Avoidance, i.e. places, people, large crowds Test anxiety Difficulty concentrating Disorganized thinking Sensitivity to sounds, lights, etc.

Risks of Adolescent Anxiety Family/friend discord School problems/school refusal Substance Abuse Other mental health disorders Self-injurious behaviors Misdiagnosis Immune deficiencies

Treatment/Prognosis Early intervention is key Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Family Therapy Parent education and support Medication consultation Implementing a self-care plan Good prognosis for both adolescent Depression and Anxiety

References/Resources National Institute of Health https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/depression.html Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/pediatric-anxiety-disorders-treatments

Local Adolescent Counseling Resources Healing Tree Counseling (540) 808-3382 Growth Works (540) 260-3445 New River Valley Community Services (540) 961-8300

Crisis Services Emergency Services/Raft Hotline (540)961-8400 Emergency Personnel, ask for a CIT officer The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)