When a Depressed Teenager Won’t Get Out of BedDepression, Mental Health, Teens, Treatment<img width="845" height="321" src="https://bnitreatment.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/depressed-teenager-wont-get-out-of-bed-845x321.jpg" class="wp-image-30325 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-30325 attachment-entry_with_sidebar size-entry_with_sidebar wp-post-image" alt="depressed teenager won&#039;t get out of bed" /> Table of Contents Your Depressed Teenager Won’t Get Out of Bed. Now What?About Teen DepressionCauses of Teen DepressionSuicide Risk for Depressed TeensGetting Help for a Teen with DepressionBNI Treatment Provides Residential Mental Health Treatment for Teens Your Depressed Teenager Won’t Get Out of Bed. Now What? It is hard for a parent to admit that something is not right with their child. Sure, when the teen years hit it is very common to notice an increase in moodiness and drama. But when the teenager flat out refuses to leave their bed, it is cause for worry, indeed. Teens may go through a tough time, maybe due to social problems, family issues, or trouble at school. In most cases, these kinds of problems are usually short-lived and the teen will cycle through the emotions in time. Sometimes, though, depression can be at the root of the teen’s desire to stay isolated in their room. Parents who suspect their teen is struggling with depression should enlist the help of a trained mental health expert. Teen depression should not be ignored, as suicides in this age cohort are on the rise. About Teen Depression When your teen won’t leave their room, or even get out of bed, and this persists, it might be due to depression. The NIH reports that teen depression now affects 13.3% of our youth between the ages of 13-17. This reflects about 3.2 million teens. Rates of depression are almost twice as high in teen girls versus boys. Symptoms of teen depression may include: Feeling sad or hopeless. Changes in sleep patterns. Changes in eating habits; sudden weight gain or loss. Fatigued, listless. Loss of interest in usual hobbies. Irritable; angry outbursts Withdraws from friends and family. Low self-esteem. Sensitive to peer rejection or being criticized. Trouble paying attention in school. Frequent headaches or stomach aches. Talks about death, suicidal thoughts. Teens that are still showing these signs after a two-week period should be seen by a doctor. Causes of Teen Depression Teen depression is somewhat of a mystery. With all the advances made in science and so much research, the exact cause of depression is still not known. Hormone changes during the teen years may contribute somewhat, and there are other risk factors for depression as well. Some of these risk factors include: Family History. Depression is more common among teens with family members who also suffer from it. Teen Hormones. The influx of growth and sex hormones during the teen years can impact brain chemistry. Family Changes. Teens may have a tough time working through a difficult life event. It might involve moving to another town or school, a divorce, or a death in the family. Social Anxiety. The teen years are stressful. Social anxiety can be a problem for some teens. The social skills may not yet be developed, so the teen may struggle with fitting in or with feeling rejected. Social Media. Prolonged exposure to social media can lead to depression. Teens are very self-conscious of their looks and social media can make them more insecure. Body dysmorphia, being bullied, and eating disorders are common. School Pressures. Young people feel a lot of pressure to excel in high school as they look toward college. Some teens struggle with grades or a learning deficit and may come to feel they are letting their parents down. Childhood Trauma. A history of abuse or neglect can trigger depression even years later. Romantic Breakups. During the heightened emotions of the teen years, romantic feelings are intense. When a breakup or rejection occurs it can be very hard for the teen to deal with. Covid-19. The lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have had a deep impact on teens. Long months of social isolation and loneliness, as well as the many changes Covid brought, have been hard on teens. Suicide Risk for Depressed Teens Teen suicide has spiked in recent years. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for young people between ages 10-24, according to data from the CDC. In teens, the danger is the still immature limbic system in the brain. This is the region that controls decision-making and impulsivity. A teen may decide on a whim to just “end it all” because they do not have the coping skills. Where an adult can better manage difficult emotions, a teen isn’t equipped because their brain is still developing. Call Our Parent Hotline (888) 522-1504 Warning signs of suicide among teens include: Impulsive behaviors. Becoming more withdrawn. Giving away prized possessions. Having angry outbursts, rage, or violent behaviors. Feeling like they have no real purpose in life. Obsessed with thoughts of death and suicide. Chronic sleep problems. Changes in eating and sleeping habits. Feelings of shame, guilt, excessive worry, or grief. Stops showing up for activities once enjoyed. Substance abuse. Obtaining the means to complete suicide, such as weapon or pills. Getting Help for a Teen with Depression So what does a parent do if their depressed teenager won’t get out of bed? The first big step is to not ignore the teen’s behavior and mood state. A day or two, fine, but a week or longer is a warning sign not to be ignored. Set up a meeting with the family doctor as a starting point. Once a health issue is ruled out, the doctor can refer the teen to a mental health provider. In most cases, the teen will be treated with outpatient actions at first. This is likely to involve an antidepressant and talk therapy. If the teen’s mood state worsens, though, it is time to consider a more intensive treatment solution. A residential program offers the teen a place to work through the issues that are factors in the depression. These programs also offer tutoring so the teen can keep up with school while in treatment. The mental health program includes: Therapy. This is offered in both one on one and group formats. Includes evidence-based therapies like CBT, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and solutions-focused therapy. Life skills.  The teens will be taught new coping skills, communication skills, conflict resolution techniques, and relating skills. Meds. Some teens may benefit from drug therapy, although the risks must be weighed. Holistic. Some activities enhance results, such as surf therapy, equine therapy, recreational therapy, art, dance, music, and drama therapy, and yoga. If your depressed teenager won’t get out of bed, and they aren’t getting better, consider a residential program for teens. BNI Treatment Provides Residential Mental Health Treatment for Teens BNI Treatment Centers give parents the needed support for helping a teen with depression. The expert psychiatric staff has designed a program that is attuned to the needs of teens, protocols that teens will respond to. For any questions about the program, please contact BNI today at (888) 522-1504.

What to Do About Teenage Cell Phone AddictionAddiction, Mental Health, Self Esteem, Treatment<img width="845" height="321" src="https://bnitreatment.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/teenage-cell-phone-addiction-845x321.jpg" class="wp-image-30300 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-30300 attachment-entry_with_sidebar size-entry_with_sidebar wp-post-image" alt="teenage cell phone addiction" /> Table of Contents Teenage cell phone addiction disrupts family time, social time, and study time.What is Teenage Cell Phone Addiction?What Are Signs of Teen Cell Phone Addiction SymptomsThe Impact of Teen Social Media Addiction on Mental HealthWhat Do You Do If Your Teenage Is Addicted to Their PhoneBNI Treatment Centers Helps Teens with Mental Health Disorders Teenage cell phone addiction disrupts family time, social time, and study time. For a teen, having a cell phone is like being a kid in a candy store. With app stores offering a never-ending array of options, it is easy to see how teens get addicted to their phones. By design, software companies have found ways to draw people into their digital products, including teens. Social media apps, and there are many, gobble up the most time among teens. Teens are on these social apps for several hours a day. Data show that teens spend about 3 hours a day on social media. An astounding 20% of teens are on these social platforms for more than 5 hours a day. On average, teens are on their phones about 7 hours per day. Smartphone addiction is very real. When teens use the apps, they will receive a dopamine hit that gets logged in the brain’s reward system. This leads to the teen spending ever more time on their phones, as the behavior gets continually reinforced. Keep reading to learn more about teen cell phone addiction and what can be done to curb the problem. What is Teenage Cell Phone Addiction? There is ample research showing how smartphone overuse, especially social media, impacts the brain. In fact, it can cause the same brain chemical responses as a drug. When a teen sees new likes, positive comments, or new followers on their feeds, they receive a burst of dopamine. Similar to a drug’s high, as social app use escalates, the more engagement they crave. The time spent engaging on social feeds will increase more and more as this reward cycle takes hold. The teen may put off other activities they once enjoyed in exchange for spending more time on their phones. Homework is not completed, which affects the teen’s grades. Sleep is forfeited, which impacts their health in many ways. In person social time is traded off for engaging with strangers on their social media feeds. All of these adverse effects caused by excess cell phone use can lead to mental health issues. Anxiety can result due to the time wasted on the phone. This causes stress because the teen now lacks time to complete their schoolwork or chores. Too much time online also results in depression, mainly because the teen begins to feel lonely. What Are Signs of Teen Cell Phone Addiction Symptoms As with other behavioral addictions, there will be certain signs the teen displays. Signs of a teenage cell phone addiction might include: Teen cannot carry on a live conversation. Teen is always scrolling and clicking around on their phone. Teen is not able to be without their phone, even for a few minutes. Teen shows signs of depression the more they are on their phone. Teen becomes obsessed with selfies and their social feels. Teen is having sleep problems. Teen’s grades drop, due to reduced time for studying or homework. Parents might want to think about having a digital time out, where all phones are shelved for a day or a weekend. Taking a break from the cell phones will do the whole family a lot of good. The Impact of Teen Social Media Addiction on Mental Health During the teen years, the brain is still under construction. The teen brain is more vulnerable to things that could lead to an addiction, like video games and social media. A recent study explains how the reward system in the teenage brain works. Call Our Parent Hotline (888) 522-1504 It shows the same type of dopamine release in response to social media likes as one might have to a drug. The study also points out that the teen will show “withdrawal” symptoms, like irritability and anxiety. This happens when they are not allowed to use their cell phone or social media. But anxiety and depression in themselves can be a result of too much cell phone use. Studies show that teens that spend large amounts of time on social platforms suffer from higher levels of mental health issues. This is due to the time spent on social apps, which can fuel low self-esteem, body dysmorphia, and bullying. Also, excess time on smartphones means a lack of in person contact with friends and family. Face-to-face time is traded off for huge amounts of time chatting online with strangers. These interactions are shallow and do not lead to any real human connection. Over time, this can result in feelings of loneliness and depression. What Do You Do If Your Teenage Is Addicted to Their Phone Parent Guidelines to Reduce Teenager Cell Phone Addiction Parents can help limit their teen’s cell phone use in several ways. It is likely a waste of time to forbid them to be on their phones, but you can set rules. Remind the teen that having a phone is a privilege, not a right, and that you are paying for it. Of course, guidelines for a 13 year-old will be different from that of a 17 year-old. Consider these tips for parents: Set limits on time for phone use. Set up screen-free periods during the day, with a place for the phone to be stored during that time. Tell the teen the phone will be shut off if their grades drop. Have your teen shut down their cell phone at a certain time each night. Keep communication open and bring up any concerns if you think they might be bullied on social media. Have clear consequences should the teen break your cell phone rules. Suggest your teen take breaks from their cell phone to enjoy an outdoor activity. Teach the teen about online predators. Limit the types of social media platforms they can use. Because social media isn’t going anywhere, it is best for parents to take the offense and partner with their teen to help them negotiate the challenges and emotional landmines together. Learning ways to reduce the chances for teenage cell phone addiction can help your teen avoid risks to mental health. BNI Treatment Centers Helps Teens with Mental Health Disorders BNI Treatment Centers provides the intensive treatment and support needed for teens with depression or anxiety disorders. Teens who struggle with mental health issues related to smartphone addiction are guided toward making better use of their time. For more details about our program, call BNI today at (888) 522-1504.

After Alexi McCammond was named editor in chief of Teen Vogue, people discovered and recirculated on Instagram old anti-Asian and homophobic tweets she had written a decade earlier, while still a teenager.