If your teen suffers from depression, it can be hard to know how to support them.
As a parent, you want to help your child in any way that you can. Unfortunately, depression is hard to manage, especially for teenagers. It can be isolating for your teen, causing them to withdraw and not tell you about their real emotions and feelings.
If you feel at a loss when faced with your teen’s depression, it’s not a hopeless situation. With patience and understanding, you can help your teen through it and help them feel safe, loved, and listened to.
From the practical end, how do you do this?
Talk to Them
A supportive conversation goes a long way! This approach may seem like an obvious solution, but the best way to get through to your teen is through open and honest conversation. All too often, it’s easy to allow yourself to be shut out by your child. While you want to respect their space and privacy, this may lead to you neglecting the issue.
So even if it’s uncomfortable or you don’t know what to say, tell your teen that you are always there for them. Don’t minimize what they’re going through, but tell them that whatever they need, you will do all you can to help them.
Encourage Them to Take Up New Hobbies
It’s very common to lose interest in hobbies and activities when you’re depressed. If you’ve noticed that your teenager isn’t interested in the things they used to enjoy—sports, painting, video games—try encouraging them to start these hobbies again.
Don’t push them or make them feel bad for not wanting to. But by gently encouraging them to get back into something they once loved, you’re showing that you care and possibly helping them find joy through the activity. Even better than verbal encouragement is when you take action and join them in the activity or take up a new hobby together.
Don’t Pressure Them
If you don’t suffer from depression yourself, then it can be hard to know what struggles your teen is going through exactly. You may become frustrated with them at times, especially if they have trouble getting out of bed or their grades are slipping.
It’s important to understand that your teenager isn’t trying to be difficult and that symptoms of depression can manifest in nearly every aspect of life. Be patient and understanding. Never pressure your teen to do something they aren’t comfortable with—that will ultimately only make their depression worse.
Help Them Find a Therapist
One of the best things you can do for your depressed teenager is to help them find a therapist. Often, teenagers don’t have the resources to be able to find professional support on their own. As their parent, you must take their illness seriously and get them the help that they need.
Have an open conversation with your teen and express that you think they could benefit from engaging in therapy. Tell them that you will help them in any way that they need. Ensure that if they don’t like their initial therapist, you can work together to find the right one.
It’s not easy to be the parent of a depressed teen. You want to help your child through it, but you may feel helpless or unsure of how to approach the situation. Fortunately, with patience and understanding, and by getting them professional help. you can help your teen through their depression.
Be supportive, listen, and appreciate their concerns—never brush them off or minimize what they’re saying. And, ultimately, find your teen a therapist. This strategy is the best way to ensure that they’re getting the professional help that they need. Soon enough, you’ll start to notice significant advancements in their happiness and well-being!
If you would like to know more about how I could help your teen overcome their depression, please contact me. I offer teen counseling in Colorado.