Counseling for Teenagers with Depression in Broken Arrow, Tulsa County

Depression in Teenagers, Counseling Services Available in Broken Arrow for Tulsa County Residents

By Alina Morrow, LPC-S, CAMS II, GC, CCTP

Disclaimer: The article below is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct advice, a personal diagnosis, or as an individual treatment plan. Always consult with a mental health professional or medical doctor if you have concerns.

Introduction and Overview

Depression is a serious problem that affects teenagers by negatively impacting their life if not diagnosed and treated properly. Statistics show that 1 in 8 adolescents may be suffering from depression. Unfortunately, 30 percent of those that experience the mental and emotional turmoil caused by depression are not properly treated.

Depression is difficult to diagnose in teenagers due to their up and down mood swings common for this age group. In teenagers, moods and feelings can alternate between periods where life is perceived as either great - or awful. However, these periods are short lasting for a few hours or a few days. True depression is characterized by long-lasting symptoms that persist over a 2 weeks period.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of teen depression include the following:

Sadness or hopelessness
Irritability, anger, rage, hostility, and frustration
Low self-esteem
Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and anxiety
Extremely sensitivity to criticism
Tearfulness or frequent crying
Social withdrawal and isolation (from friends and family)
Lack of enthusiasm and energy
Decreased motivation or desire to be involved in different activities (sports, hobbies)
Changes in eating and sleeping habits
Rebellious, destructive or promiscuous behaviors
Unexplained pains or aches
Sloppy or neglected appearance
Thoughts of death or suicide.

Causes, Triggers and Risk Factors:

Depression can be triggered by different events, such as:

Pressure associated with puberty’s psychological aspects (teens are trying to figure out their own identity, who they are and where they fit) as well as physical aspects (caused by the influence of sex hormones).

Parental conflicts and the need for independence associated with the natural transition between the childhood and adulthood.

Disturbing events such as the death of a close friend or relative, and break-ups with a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Every teenager can be at risk to develop depression, but there are certain groups of adolescents that are more prone to depression. The main risk factors for depression among teenagers include:

Gender: Females are almost twice more vulnerable to depression than males.

Long-term or chronic illnesses: Adolescents that suffer from long-term or chronic illnesses have an increased risk to develop depression.

Family history of depression.

Dysfunctional or disrupted family environment: Abused or neglected teenagers, problems caused by divorce, death in family.

If left undiagnosed and not treated, depression can have a devastating and negative impact on every aspect of the teenager's life which can lead to unwanted baggage that is carried on into adulthood. Unfortunately,the effects of depression can go beyond melancholy and sad moods and lead to the more negative consquence which include:

School problems: Depression causes a decreased level of energy, decreased interest and motivation in school related activities. The adolescent might skip school, get bad grades, and refuse to complete homework.

Drug and alcohol abuse: Some teens might use drugs or alcohol to cope with the problems and stress they experience. However, these attempts can become more serious, because an increased amount of drugs or alcohol over a long period of time can lead to addiction. Teen drug abuse should be addressed with care, compassion, and a sense of urgency

Running away from home: Many teens choose to run away from home or talk about doing it as an attempt of solving the distress. Usually, this is a cry sign for help.

Low self-esteem problems: Many teenagers suffer from feelings of ugliness or unworthiness. Unfortunately, depression can increase or intensify these feelings.

Eating disorders: Depression can cause a series of eating disorders such as: bulimia, anorexia, binge eating, and yo-yo diets expecially amount the girls.

Self-injure: Depression can cause cutting, burning, and other kinds of self-mutilation problems.

Promiscuous behavior: Teenagers that suffer from depression might engage in sexual activities or have sexual intercourse with multiple partners.

Aggressive behavior: This type of behavior is more common among males, but there are cases when girls also become aggressive.

Suicide: Suicide is a very serious problem in teenagers, and is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents.

Suicide

Unfortunately, it is estimated that approximately 500,000 teenagers try to commit suicide every year and almost 5,000 actually succeed. Depressed teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide.

Signs of suicidal plans include:

Talking or threatening to kill themselves.
Preparing for death by giving away favorite possessions, writing good-bye letters, or writing a will.
Talking about the future without hope.
An unhealthy fascination with death and the natural and/or accidental death of other living things.

Usually, a suicide attempt is an act of desperation when the teenager perceives his or hers problems as overwhelming and unbearable.

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Related Information:

General Symptoms of Depression

Depression in Teenagers

Depression in Women

Depression in Men

Depression in Elderly

Symptoms of Depression

Major Depression

Chronic Depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Post-Partum Depression

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Are you suffering from depression? Contact Tulsa Therapist Alina Morrow, LPC, today to make an appointment and get the help and relief you deserve. You can reach me by texting or calling 918-403-8873 or by Email.

Page Last Updated: July 24, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much does it cost per session?
A. My price is $150 for a 50-minute session.

Q. Who can come to counseling?
A. Anyone who wants guidance to improve their quality of life.

Q. What are the office hours?
A. Monday thru Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Q. How soon can you see us/me?
A. I can usually schedule you the week that you call.

Q. What do I need to do to make an appointment?
A. You can call, text or email me with the day and time you prefer, and we can go from there. PLEASE NOTE: A debit or credit card is required to reserve an appointment. The card has to be provided at the time you schedule your first appointment.

Q. What office policies do I need to be aware of prior to making an appointment?
A. All the clients that schedule appointments with me will be informed about the Making/Cancelling or Rescheduling Appointments Policy. This policy is included in the first appointment forms and is discussed with every client at the beginning of our work together. This policy states that each client will receive a text reminder 2 days (48 hours) prior to their scheduled appointment. The client is required to respond back by confirming, cancelling or rescheduling the appointment the lastet by 8pm the day I send the reminder. If the client fails to respond back, it will be assumed they cancelled the appointment without further notice and they become financially responsible for the booked appointment. Please know that at 8pm the appointment becomes available to other clients, and it is no longer yours.

Q. What is the role of the Making/Cancelling and Rescheduling Appointments Policy?
A. This policy helps me provide equal access to services to all clients (existent or new clients). Each time a client makes an appointment the allocated time is dedicated just to them; therefore, no one else has access to that appointment. This allows me to keep my schedule organized and coordinate the care of each client I have, as well as allocating the rest of the scheduling hours to others that are in need of services. When a client does not respond to my reminder, they directly affect several people. My schedule is affected, and other clients are prevented from having access to appointments. Please understand that mental health services also involve emergency or highly critical situations where clients need to receive services as soon as possible. If you (the client) do not respond to let me know the status of your appointment, I am not able to coordinate the care for other clients and attend to their needs. Clients that need services but cannot be scheduled are put on a waiting list. This is the reason I ask a confirmation by 8pm the day I send the reminder. After 8pm, the clients on the waiting list are contacted and the available appointments are offered to them. Usually the time span between the moment I send the appointment reminder and the latest time I accept confirmations or cancellation is usually 10 to 12 hours. I send the reminders in the first part of the morning (between 8 and 10 am). By not responding to my reminder in that time frame, you (the client) keep an appointment blocked and others will not have access to services. Therefore, you (the client) become financially responsible for making an appointment and not taking responsibility for it or disregarding the needs of others. Please understand that I cannot discriminate against clients. Since this is a policy all the clients abide by when they start counseling with me, I cannot differentiate between clients and make exceptions.