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Empathic Guide to Understanding Your Child’s Depression: 7 steps to understanding Depression in Teens
by Lauro Amezcua-Patino, MD, FAPA
Parenting isn’t a stroll in the park; it’s a journey through a complex labyrinth where you must navigate emotional and physical well-being for not just yourself, but also for your child. When your child is struggling with depression, it can feel as if the walls of this labyrinth are closing in.
Understanding depression through a bio-psycho-social lens allows us to dissect the issue in a multifaceted way, offering comprehensive insights for better support and treatment. This seven-step guide is designed to take you through that understanding.
Step 1: Biological Foundations — The Brain in Distress
Depression isn’t a mere weakness of character. In its biological dimension, it involves complex interactions between neurotransmitters, hormones, and brain regions. Your child’s brain is essentially in a state of imbalance — serotonin and dopamine, the “feel-good” chemicals, may be out of sync. The prefrontal cortex, which manages emotions and decision-making, often underperforms. Recognize that this isn’t something one can “snap out of”; it requires professional medical intervention for rebalancing these components.