Are teenagers really just always tired and grumpy for no reason at all, or is there more to it?

Many adults perceive their teenagers as lazy or negative without understanding the underlying causes. In reality, there are various reasons behind these behaviors, some of which signal serious mental health issues. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA), 31.9% of adolescents suffer from anxiety-related disorders, and 1 in 7 teenagers are affected by mental health conditions overall.

Now you may wonder: Why are teens like this? Why is their mental health so impacted?

Adolescence is a key stage for forming social and emotional patterns. It is the period of time when the human brain develops lots of changes, making teens more vulnerable. Some of the most well-known factors that lead to mental health problems are family dynamics, social media use, academic pressure and identity formation. 

"The environment and the relationship with parents can significantly affect a child's psyche. A person is considered to be depressed if they show signs of depression for a period of 6 months. Such an issue can lead to suicidal thoughts. The problem is that adolescents often do not pay attention to their own issues. There are many adolescents who suffer from untreated depression." - C. R. , psychologist at a clinic from Sibiu

It is important for parents to see the signs of their teens' unwellness and to take them seriously. Sometimes, what appears to be typical teen angst may indicate deeper issues. When these behaviours are ignored and left untreated they can interfere with learning, communicating, self-esteem and other aspects that can have life-long repercussions. In the worst case scenario, untreated mental health problems lead to suicide.

Here are some confessions made by teens suffering frommental health issues, when asked how they realised they were mentally unwell and the way they were affected by it:

"I think the first signs I noticed about my mental health dropping was the lack of motivation and desire to stay awake. Every day after school I would just take a nap. Those naps would be around 4-5 hours every time. In addition, I started to be less social and just stayed in my room. That affected my attitude towards going to the cafeteria to eat lunch in school. I didn’t want to sit alone so I just didn’t go at all. That spiraled into what I can call the worst time of my life. I would wake up 20 minutes before school so I didn’t have to eat breakfast, I’d skip lunch and when I got home I’d take a nap until late hours where sometimes I’d skip dinner as well. I didn’t eat full portions of healthy food, rather I ate snacks and my relationship with food varied a lot. It didn’t feel good and I just wanted the days to go by as fast as possible. All while this was going on I had to keep my grades up so no one would notice. I thought about school and work as a way out for me. I could focus on something else until I could sleep again." - O. M, , 16-year old 

"My early teenage years were spent in quarantine. With the lack of daily structure and social interactions, my hygiene, eating habits, and sleep schedule took a turn for the worse. I would go days without showering, as the motivation to maintain basic self-care dwindled. I would stay up all night, consuming media that provided a temporary escape from reality. The disruption to my routine caused me to skip meals, leading to significant weight loss. In my attempt to find some sense of connection, I surrounded myself with the wrong people. These individuals did not support healthy behaviors. Instead, they encouraged my negative habits and reinforced my feelings of hopelessness. This environment contributed to the development of unhealthy coping mechanisms. As I began exploring my identity, I found that my views often clashed with my parents. Our disagreements were frequent and intense, as they couldn't understand the depth of my struggles, which further strained our relationship and my mental health. My frustrations grew, making me easily irritable and causing simple interactions to set me off. I lost interest in school and the passions and hobbies that once brought me joy and a sense of purpose." - T. S., 16-year old

When this happens, adolescents use various coping mechanisms to deal with mental health challenges, often depending on their access to support systems and personal resilience.

"We are born with 100 units of energy. Experiences and our perspective on them cause us to distribute this energy across various areas. A person who is depressed will never have the full 100 units of energy. Developing coping mechanisms to manage depressive symptoms involves small steps: keeping a journal or making to-do lists, recognizing that completing tasks from the list can provide motivational support. These coping strategies depend on the individual and focus on the future. If the adolescent goes to therapy, the work is done on their past to understand the root of their issues." - C. R. psychologist at a clinic from Sibiu

 However, some teens tend to adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms such as social withdrawal or, in the worst case scenario, substance abuse. In these cases, measures must be taken for the teen's safety.

All in all, if you're a parent, and not only, if you notice any signs of mental illness in anyone you know, offer them the support and help they need immediately. Don't let time pass, otherwise it might be too late.