Adolescence is a turbulent time for almost everyone! Teens experience a lot of stress at school, in their social circles, and at home. They are struggling to explore and assert their identities, make and navigate important friendships, and they are starting to date. Puberty, increased academic stress and extra-curricular activities are a lot to manage. Teenagers are known to be moody, but how do you know when teenage angst is something to worry about? The following five tips will let you know if it's time to talk to your teen about how they are feeling, and seek outside help if necessary.
1. Tearfulness or Depressed Mood
If your child is tearful, seems sad, or "down in the dumps" for most of the day, every day, it may mean that they are experiencing depression. It is normal for teens and adults alike to experience sadness, but if that sadness is persistent, it could be cause for addressing the issue.
2. Sleeping Too Much or Not Enough
Teens are notorious for staying up late and sleeping in, they are also growing and changing, and may require more sleep than usual. However, if your teen is sleeping a lot more than usual or is having trouble sleeping, this is a strong indicator of depression. Depressed individuals find it difficult to get out of bed, or they may feel like, "what is the point?" Sometimes people are so worried or dysphoric that sleep is difficult for them. If you notice this behavior in your teen, talk to them about it.
3. Loss of Interest or Pleasure in Activities Previously Enjoyed
Do you notice that your teen used to love spending time with family, playing games, or singing and dancing, but now they have lost interest? A symptom of depression is losing interest in activities that used to be pleasurable. It's normal for interests to shift and change as your child does, but the key thing to look for is a zest for life, or passion. If your child is excited about doing things they enjoy, that is a good sign. However, if your child has become ambivalent or just not interested in anything, chances are they may be depressed.
4. Excessive Weight Loss or Weight Gain
If your child is not dieting and they gain or lose a significant amount of weight, this could be a symptom of depression. Also be aware of a change in eating patterns.
5. Excessive Guilt of Feelings of Worthlessness
Keep tabs on your child's self-esteem. Depressed people can be irrationally hard on themselves. They experience the world through a negative lens, and view themselves with extreme negativity. Ask your child about what they are good at, or proud of and gage their response. Notice any statements that seem strange, or irrationally negative.
6. Inability to Focus
If your child is having a difficult time focusing in class, completing assignments, or seems distracted often, this could be a sign of depression. Notice if your child just seems "off" when it comes to focus and task completion.
7. Fatigue or Loss of Energy
Is your child exhausted or worn out often? Depressed teens not only lose interest in activities that they may have previously enjoyed, but they often do not have the energy to complete tasks. If this seems to be affecting daily life, it may be cause for concern.
8. Psychomotor Agitation or Retardation
Does your teen seem slowed down or "keyed up?" A change in the way they move can be a symptom of depression. This is not just a subjective feeling of slowing down, but a physically observable phenomenon.
9. Thoughts of Suicide
If your child is thinking about death often (not just a fear of death), then this is a clear sign that they need help. If your child starts giving away possessions, discusses their death or funeral, or makes statements like "I'd be better off dead," then PLEASE get your child help immediately.
What to Do If you Notice These Symptoms
Your adolescent may only have some of these symptoms, or all of them. The important thing is to pay attention, talk to your child and ask questions. Do NOT assume that they are lying, or trying to get attention with any of these behaviors. Do NOT yell at your child, get angry with your child, or do nothing. These reactions WILL make your child's depression worse.
Taking your child seriously, listening, acknowledging feelings, and getting the necessary and appropriate help for your child can help. If you notice more than a few of these symptoms, please take your teen to their primary care physician, and get them an appointment with a licensed mental health professional. Counseling can help your child express feelings in a safe environment, work on root causes of depression, and learn healthy coping skills to help manage depression. Medication may also be recommended by your child's doctor to treat depression.
Learn More About Counseling at www.counselingandnaturetherapy.com
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
5 Research-Based Ways That Spending Time in Nature Can Improve Your Life
Nature can help improve your mood, and your life! Gardening, exercising , hikes, yoga, and meditation in green spaces, can help decrease depression and anxiety. Connecting with the earth can help you increase mental focus, improve self-concept, and help you connect to spirituality and a deeper meaning and purpose (Leather, Pyrgas, Beale & Lawrence, 1998; Schreyer et al.,1990; Roscoe, 2009). This makes since, considering we are mammals who evolved from primates. Although industrialization and modern conveniences make it easy for us to disconnect for days, or even weeks or months at a time, it's amazing what a little TLC in the sun can do for you. The following tips, based in research give suggestions on how improving your nature connection can benefit your health:
1. Take a Road Trip to the Country: Maas, Verheij, De Vries, Spreeuwenberg, Schellevis & Groenewegen, (2009) studied the relationship between living near green space and the
occurrence of disease in Denmark. The researchers studied
more than 300,000 Dutch medical records and found that the more green space
present around a person’s residence, the less likely the person was to
experience depression and/or anxiety (Maas et al., 2009). The researchers
determined that loss of green space resulted in poorer health in many realms,
not just mental health. “For 15 of the 24 disease clusters, the annual
prevalence rate of disease was lower in living environments with a higher
percentage of green space in a 1 km radius. This relation is apparent for
diseases in all seven disease categories. It is strongest for anxiety disorders
and depression” (Maas et. al, 2009, p. 969).
If you can't live near green space, take a trip (Texas is full green space within a short drive)!
2. Put a Plant in Your Work Space: Leather, Pyrgas, Beale & Lawrence, (1998) studied the effects of sunlight on job-related stress for
workers. They concluded that the amount of light had little to no impact on job
workers’ stress levels, but that natural sunlight did have a positive effect on
workers’ general well-being, decreased their intentions of quitting, and
increased their overall job satisfaction.
3. Go on a Walk In Nature to Increase Focus: Kaplan (1995) found that spending time in natural
environments decreases mental fatigue and therefore helps individuals mentally
focus. Kaplan asserted that tasks and situations that require one to
deliberately direct attention or inhibit unwanted stimuli, thoughts, or
impulses draw on a shared mechanism that subjects the individual to ADHD as
well as “attention fatigue” (p. 170). Kaplan asserted that symptoms of ADHD can
be seen in individuals without a diagnosis when they are experiencing attention
fatigue. Kaplan concluded that
stimuli in natural environments are less taxing on the individual and give the
individual something to focus on mindlessly, thereby decreasing fatigue (1995).
4. Join a Community Garden: Community
gardening has also been shown to have a positive impact on the health of
participants with regard to self-esteem, life satisfaction, and physical
activity levels, as compared to non-gardeners (Brymer, Cuddihy & Sharma-Brymer, 2010). According
to D’Abundo & Carden, 2008, and Harris, (2009) gardening is also linked to
increased social and physical wellness (as cited in Brymer et al., 2010; Williams
& Greenleaf, 2009). An
explanation for the increased positive aspects of wellness that come with
horticultural activities, according to Brymer, et al. (2010), is the
opportunity for social interest and caring and nurturing of the
environment.
5. Eat Lunch Outside to Decrease Work Stress: Ulrich,
Simons, Lisoto, Fiorito, Miles & Nelson (1991) recognized that urban
environments can place stress on individuals due to overcrowding, air
pollution, and community noise.
They sought to understand if some environments provide an opposite,
positive affect on mental well- being. The goal of the study was to test how
exposure to natural environments fostered or hindered stress. The
researchers found that natural environmental scene exposure had positive
effects on recovery to stressful stimuli, as compared with control groups.
Stress decrease in subjects was evident in both physiological tests as well as
the verbal reports. The verbal reports indicated that participants showed
decreases in feelings of fear, anger, and aggression and increased feelings of
positivity.
References
Brymer, D. E., Cuddihy,
T. F., & Sharma-Brymer, V. (2010). The role of nature-based
experiences
in the development and maintenance of wellness. Asia-Pacific Journal of
Health, Sport and Physical
Education, 1(2),
21-27.
Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative
benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal
of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), 169-182.
Leather, P., Pyrgas, M.,
Beale, D., & Lawrence, C. (1998).
Windows in the workplace,
sunlight,
view, and occupational stress. Journal of
Environment and Behavior,
30(6),
739-762.
Maas, J. J.,
Verheij, R. A., De Vries, S. S., Spreeuwenberg, P. P., Schellevis, F. G., &
Groenewegen, P. P. (2009). Morbidity is related to a green living
environment. Journal
Of Epidemiology & Community Health, 63(12), 12. doi:10.1136/jech.2008.079038
Roscoe L.J. (2009). Wellness: A review of theory and measurement for
counselors.
Journal
of Counseling and Development,
87, 216-226.
Schreyer, R., Williams,
D. R., Haggard, L., Easley, A. T., Passineau, J. F., & Driver, B.
L.
(1990). Episodic versus continued wilderness participation-implications for
self-concept enhancement. In The use
of wilderness for personal growth, therapy, and education. Papers presented
at the 4th World Wilderness Congress in Estes Park, Colorado, USA on September
14-18 1987.
Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito,
B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress
recovery
during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental
Psychology, 11(3), 201-230.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)