What Happens to Untreated Childhood and Teenage Depression?
Depression is a very serious mental disorder and if left untreated, it can lead to serious consequences both for the patient and the community. Some of the most unusual and scary behavior patterns seen in most communities in the world can be traced back to unresolved childhood and teenage depression. Parents should be aware and observant to pick-out any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above in order to initiate treatment as soon as possible. The following are the possible complications of untreated depression in children and teenage depression.
• Risks of committing suicide: This is the most feared complication of untreated depression. Teenagers who have major depression are at the highest risk of committing suicide, and therefore parents must keep keen watch of their children and teenagers diagnosed with depression. The most important telltale signs of suicidal tendencies are constant talk about death and careless living.
• Substance abuse: Teenage alcoholism and drug addiction occur mostly in children who are depressed. They indulge in these habits in order to relieve their stress. However, alcohol is in itself a major depressant which causes a vicious cycle of depression, false relief and more depression. A great number of teenagers also get into the use of marijuana, which they get from the streets. Parents whose teenage children suddenly develop these habits must find the cause of their children’s behavior and therefore seek treatment.
• Criminal tendencies: Some of the most heinous crimes ever recorded in history can be traced back to early childhood and teenage depression. News has been reported of teenagers who stab their parents to death, a teenage gunman who goes to a movie theatre and sprays the audience with rounds of bullets, or a teenage serial killer. All of these can be traced back to untreated childhood and teenage depression.
• Poor academic performance: This can be produced by a combination of many factors such as poor concentration and thinking ability, insomnia and hypersomnia which interfere with learning, problems with school authority and somatic complains. Identification and treatment of this disorder early, coupled with early treatment, can go a long way in helping these children cope with academic development.
• Health problems: Depression is associated with many health problems, some very serious and deadly. For example, stress has been associated with the development of stress ulcers, peptic ulcer disease, hypertension, and obesity, as well as poor nutrition. In addition, many diseases present with depression as one of their major manifesting symptoms. Identification of depression in children can help with diagnosis of the underlying disease, therefore starting treatment and having an avoidance of complications.
• Failed relationships: Depressed children and teenagers are withdrawn, avoid social gatherings, irritable, and have temperamental behaviors. These problems can tremendously affect the child’s social relationships, so that when they grow into adults they cannot start and maintain relationships. These teenagers cannot start romantic relationships and other personal relationships, because their behaviors are considered repugnant by their peers and would be friends.
• Poor social as well as emotional development: Children and teenagers who suffer from depression find it hard to socialize with their friends. Untreated depression can cause serious anxiety disorders, such as social phobia, which can lead to low self-esteem and pessimism. Such teenagers cannot achieve their potential socially, and emotionally, as well as academically.
http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/top-iphone-android-apps#2 “The best depression iphone and android apps of the year.”
A Remedy for Depression and Anxiety - EMDR:
http://kidsrelaxation.com/uncategorized/7-apps-to-help-kids-relax/ “7 apps to Help Kids Relax”
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.excelatlife.depression&hl=en “Depression CBT Self-Help Guide.”