If a parent notices his teen suffered an injury that needed treatment, he would seek the proper care, because he knows that if left untreated, the injury could lead to infection or an even bigger problem. So a teen showing a sign of depression should be treated the same way. However, signs of depression are often blurred by the maturation process, so parents believe the changed behavior is normal. For the most part, experiencing sadness is a normal emotion, much like experiencing happiness is normal, but some teenagers tend to get lost in the sadness.

Rebellion, fear and sadness are normal parts of pubescent years, but if parents find themselves constantly wondering what's wrong with their child, then it may be time to pay close attention to her behavior. Some of the first signs that a teen may be suffering from depression would be her withdrawing from family and friends. It would also help to check in at school, because teens lack focus when suffering from depression and schoolwork may become difficult. A teen may also try and self-medicate her depression with alcohol or drug use. Other signs that a teen may be depressed are as follows: *Constant sadness *Loss of interest *Irritability/hostility *Change in sleep patterns *Change in eating habits *No focus or drive, self-loathing *Talk of suicide

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for people age 15 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, and when a teenager also experiments with drugs and alcohol, the chance for suicide becomes even greater, so parents should take these signs seriously.

Temporarily, these feelings are common amongst teens. She may feel like the world is her oyster one day, and a bout with a pimple can bring her world to an end. This behavior is normal. However, too many days of wanting the world to end is not. Girls are twice as likely to experience depression than boys, according to the National Association of School Psychologists. Girls become concerned with their appearance when they hit puberty. So this new obsession, coupled with obsessing over body development, can lead to bouts of depression.

Concerned parents should speak with a school psychologist or qualified health professional. Early detection can lead to an early treatment because if depression is present during teenage years, and goes untreated, there is a chance the depression will follow the teen into adulthood. The proper therapy can be just as effective as medication.

Teens often struggle with identity. He may feel as if he cannot live up to his father's expectations, and she may feel like she will never live up to the anticipations of society. Both of theses feelings are a part of growing up, but not everyone knows how to navigate these problems. There is no right or wrong answer for some of the questions, so there is a lot of gray area filled with self-doubt, stress and a loss of control. So teens look to parents to be the navigators. It's the parents' job to notice when the teen has veered off course.