Teenage depression is a serious condition that may go unrecognized and, when left untreated, may pose significant risk to your adolescent. Depressive illness is on the increase, for children as well as teenagers, and with it, unfortunately, the rates of teen suicide.

Is your teen at risk? Everyone becomes depressed from time to time but when feelings of depression persist and interfere with daily functioning, it is prudent to take a closer look. Remember that the behavior of teenagers may be different from that of adults. Teen depression involves a number of characteristics that should be examined closely.

If one or more of the following symptoms persists, do not delay in seeking appropriate treatment for your teenager

Your teen may show signs of apathy and forego activities he formerly enjoyed. He may complain of boredom and his lack of motivation may result in failure to attend classes or you may notice a drop in grades. He or she may complain of physical maladies: stomachaches, headaches, dizziness, nausea, back or menstrual pain. These complaints can easily be dismissed as excuses for missing school, while the real culprit is teenage depression. Your teen may be acting out, either at home or school and because he or she may not necessarily act sad, these symptoms could be mistaken for undesirable behavior or common teenage antics.

He or she may withdraw from social activities, avoiding friends and spending much time alone. Most teenagers spend time in their rooms, holed up listening to music, but it is important to assess what they are listening to. What message is the music portraying? A teen’s sadness may be revealed in the type of music he listens to, the type of clothing he chooses, or composition of writings with a morbid theme. Teen depression may be lurking within plain view.

Appearance can be another sign that your teen is struggling. He or she may not be copying a certain style or trend, instead, maintaining proper hygiene and grooming may not seem relevant when life does not seem worth living. Appetite changes may be evident with weight losses or gains, which advance to bulimia or anorexia, or obesity.

Teenage depression can play a role in feelings of low self-esteem, with your teen doubting his competence or thinking he is a failure. This may be compounded by what he believes is rejection. He or she may cry for no apparent reason, show increased irritability, be sarcastic or abusive toward others, or those feelings may turn inward. Teen depression may take a more serious turn when teens inflict self injury by cutting themselves or by turning to drugs or alcohol.

While cutting, alcohol, or drug abuse may be hidden, when a teen runs away from home, this may be the cry for help that makes parents take notice. Another red flag is when a teen talks of suicide. Never, never dismiss this as melodrama or emotional blackmail. Rather, seek help from a psychiatrist or other mental health professional who treats adolescents.

Teen depression is a real illness that requires professional evaluation and treatment. Although there are valid concerns about antidepressant medication, most mental health professionals continue to recommend its use. When depression becomes so serious it puts the sufferer at risk, medication can be a valid treatment choice.

No stone should be left unturned when attempting to treat teenage depression and thankfully modern treatment approaches are effective in helping a teen in the recovery process. Counseling and natural remedies are also valuable.

Potent, good quality supplements have been shown to be effective in treating depression. Effective ingredients in may include ginkgo biloba, shown to be an aid in concentration and in treating depression; chamomile, which can help to reduce anxiety; valerian, which can help with sleep difficulties (encountered in teen depression). It has been used to reduce anxiety and for mood disorders, including depressive illnesses; calcium and magnesium, which can help alleviate physical and emotional stress. These, as well as other essential ingredients, such as beneficial vitamins and minerals, amino acids, enzymes, specialty supplements and additional herbal extracts all work to treat teenage depression effectively.

Eliminate the risk by seeking treatment for teen depression.

Athlyn Green is an avid health enthusiast with an interest in natural remedies for treatment of health disorders. She is a regular contributor to several health sites, including Beat Your Depression, a site dedicated to treating depression safely and effectively.