It’s unfortunate that the term “depression” gets tossed about so frequently.

People think that they know the signs and symptoms of the condition and apply them to someone they believe is depressed. This approach might be well-meaning if they want that person to get help.

However, the label ignores subtleties about depression that vary between age groups. Adults dealing with depression often experience it differently than a teen.

Remember, depression is beyond feeling sad or blue. Instead, these are specific symptoms that individuals often ignore or mislabel.

Here are some subtle differences between depression in teens and adults.

The Mood Swing That Is Adolescence

Let’s face it; teenagers are one giant ball of emotions. And it isn’t always pretty! It only makes sense, as teens are experiencing puberty. They have loads of hormones raging through their bodies.

Also, the teenage brain is still developing into an adult brain. Science shows that the average age for full brain development is about 25 years old. So, if a teen appears sad or even depressed, it’s helpful to keep these factors in the back of your mind.

Symptoms such as moodiness, irritability, or even anger could be signs of depression. Or, they are simply signs that your child is merely a teenager.

Depression Symptoms in Teens

Some depression symptoms are more prevalent in teenagers as opposed to adults, such as:

School Difficulty: Going to school is similar to having a job for adults. However, by this time in their academic careers, teens are well established, for the most part, with how they learn. If you see a child who typically does well in school now have D’s and F’s, that could be a sign that something is wrong.
Substance Use: Teens often experiment with drug use. It won’t be surprising if your teen has tried marijuana or something similar at least once by now. However, if you notice consistent, regular, and heavy drug use, that’s different. It could be that your teen is self-medicating through substances.
Self-Harm: This situation is when your teen purposely injures themselves to cope with difficult emotions, such as depression. It acts as a distraction from their feelings. Cutting, burning themselves, or getting a piercing or tattoo are signs to watch out for.

Depression Symptoms in Adults

One symptom of depression in adults, in particular older adults, is irritability. Did you ever have a grandparent or relative who always seemed to be in a grumpy or irritable mood?

This behavior is a lower-level form of anger, and anger is an underlying sign of depression.

Another problem is having difficulty recalling things and memory issues. Many people confuse these symptoms for other problems, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Finally, adults who have depression often lose weight as compared to teens, who might gain too much weight.

Help for Depression Treatment

Are you worried that your teen or loved one is dealing with depression? If so, then it would be best for them to seek professional support from a therapist.

Depression counseling is crucial to lifting the cloud of depression. A therapist will also be able to distinguish multiple symptoms better so that your loved one can get the right diagnosis.

Even if you think you know a few of the symptoms about depression, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be they will be evident in your loved one. There are subtle differences in how depression presents itself in both teens and adults.

However, if you suspect that your loved one suffers from depression, help them seek the support they need.

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I have years of experience helping people overcome depression and would like to help. Please read more about depression treatment and reach out to me for support today.