Are you worried about your adolescent's moods? Has their behavior changed recently and you think they might be depressed? If your child or adolescent appears to be depressed, you may have looked into antidepressants and found yourself even more concerned, and you should be. Drugs designed to fight depression in adults may in some cases, actually increase the incidence of destructive behavior in some children and adolescents.
The good news is that there are other options. While seriously depressed teens should visit the doctor to rule out underlying physical conditions, a therapist that specializes in the treatment of adolescents, or other mental health professionals, some early symptoms may also be alleviated through regular physical activity and exercise. Physical activities can work directly as well as indirectly to help relive many of your teen’s emerging symptoms of depression.
While there are other health benefits, exercise and physical activity itself, can directly improve the overall mood of your adolescent. Activity that is physical, produces chemicals in the brain, that work to improve a person's overall feeling of good health. While the effect is short term, regular exercise can
help to improve your adolescent's affect, even when they’re not actively engaged in physical activity.
It is not a secret that there are many children and adolescents in this country that are overweight and suffering from diabetes. Regular exercise will help alleviate or at least control these conditions and leave your child feeling better about themselves.
Another one of the contributing factors in adolescent depression is low self esteem. By helping your child improve their physical appearance, you can help improve the way they feel about their bodies and themselves. Regular exercise will help your child look and feel better. Even if physical results are minimal, consistent exercise and physical activity can help to provide the child with a sense of accomplishment which boosts their self-esteem.
As already indicated, low self esteem is a big factor in childhood and adolescent depression. But self-esteem is not entirely determined by how one looks or what skills one can accomplish. Many children suffer from a low self-esteem because they lack socialization skills. There are plenty of exercise opportunities for adolescents, such as team sports, that involve socializing. These will allow your child to meet new people and make new friends. Even if they’re not good enough to make their school’s team, there are plenty of other opportunities through the YMCA and other sport clubs. Given the opportunity and provided with your encouragement, they may find an activity that they enjoy participating in.
So talk to your teen, visit the doctor to rule out physical reasons for the depression and don't hesitate to follow up with a mental health professional if needed. Then, instead of allowing your child to spend all their free time sitting on the couch with video games, get them up and moving.
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