What Is Unipolar Depression?

Understanding the Signs and Effects of Unipolar Depression

Unipolar depression, also referred to as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), is a prevalent mental health condition that affects teens’ emotions, energy, and daily functioning. This condition is characterized by persistently low moods and a lack of interest in activities without the alternating manic episodes seen in bipolar disorder.

Symptoms of unipolar depression, such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness, and changes in appetite, vary in severity. Understanding condition is the first step toward seeking proper treatment. Unlike symptoms of other forms of depression, unipolar depression symptoms remain consistent over time.

While the causes of unipolar depression may include genetic, environmental, and psychological factors, its effects can differ from person to person. Effective unipolar depression treatment often combines therapy, medication, and lifestyle adjustments.

There is more than one form of depression, each requiring various forms of treatment. When a teenager starts showing signs of depression [1], it’s important to have realistic and accurate information about what they are dealing with. Your teenager and the people around them can benefit from knowing what depression is, how it presents, and what can be done about it.

It’s common for a person with depression to think that it won’t get better or that there aren’t good options out there for them, but having the right resources and knowledge can make it a lot easier to counter those feelings.

Keep reading to learn more about unipolar depression, how it can be different from other forms of mental illness, [2] and how treatment at BasePoint Academy can help your teenager.

What Is Unipolar Depression?

Unipolar depression is another term for major depressive disorder. The reason MDD is sometimes called unipolar depression is to differentiate between MDD and bipolar disorder or bipolar depression. A person with unipolar [3] depression will experience many of the same symptoms as someone with bipolar disorder while they are in a depression; however, unipolar depression doesn’t involve symptoms of mania.

That doesn’t mean teens with major depressive disorder will always feel depressed. But it does mean they experience more symptoms of depression and that their depressive periods are more profound than in people without the disorder. It also typically means periods of depression may last longer than they do for other people, or that the teens affected by the disorder may find it more difficult to avoid getting depressed.

There are several different subtypes of depression within unipolar or major depressive disorder, including atypical depression, seasonal affective disorder, and dysthymic disorder. Some of these are chronic, while others may resolve after a period of depression or with proper treatment.

The important thing to remember is that even chronic depression is treatable, and adolescents who have chronic depression can still live happy, fulfilled lives overall once they find the right treatment and learn how to manage their depression.

Signs of Unipolar Depression

There are a lot of potential symptoms of unipolar depression. It can sometimes be hard to identify if these feelings are abnormal, situational, or a sign of a different mental health disorder entirely. That is why it’s important to get professional help when it comes to diagnosing and treating mental health disorders.

Mental health professionals have a list of diagnostic criteria that help them make accurate diagnoses and recommend the appropriate course of treatment. That said, not having a diagnosis is no reason to ignore potential signs of depression among teens. The sooner you recognize there is a potential problem, the easier it is likely to be to get help and find the right treatment before the disorder escalates.

Common Symptoms of Depression You and Your Teen Should Be Aware Of

Getting depression help for your teen can be tricky, especially because you don’t want to make them feel like there is something wrong with them for being depressed; you also don’t want them to think you blame them or are upset with them for what they are feeling.

Watch for sudden changes in behavior, grades, or engagement with their lives. It’s normal for teens to want to spend more time and energy with their friends instead of their family, but it’s not necessarily normal for teens to disconnect from family and peers at the same time.

Dropping grades, lower performance in a sport or club, or dropping out of extracurricular activities may also be a sign that something is wrong. Sometimes these things are a result of being over-scheduled, but they can also be a sign your teen is struggling.

You should also watch for radical changes in hairstyle or color, as well as major wardrobe changes, especially unseasonable ones like suddenly wearing long sleeves year-round. These can be warning signs that your teen is struggling with suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm.

Here are a few other symptoms of depression to look out for in your teen:

• Chronic low mood
• Feeling sad all or most days
• Loss of interest in things they used to enjoy
• Finding it difficult to be happy or joyful
• Low energy
• Noticeable differences in hunger and appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Agitation
• Difficulty completing tasks
• Feeling like they don’t matter
• Feeling guilty, especially over small things, or feeling guilty for no real reason
• Having thoughts of self-harm
• Having thoughts of suicide
• Feeling numb or empty
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Difficulty remembering things

There are other symptoms, and not everyone who has depression will have all of these symptoms, or have them all at the same time.

It’s also normal for perfectly normal developmental phases in teens to look concerning to the adults around them or for the signs of depression to go under the radar while the teen puts up a good front. The differences between experiencing depression symptoms sometimes and having a disorder like unipolar depression lie in how long the symptoms last, how many of them your teen has, and how severe each symptom becomes.

However, even if these symptoms aren’t due to a disorder, they can still be a sign that your teenager might be having a hard time for other reasons and needs a little extra support.

Remember, if you are concerned, it’s important to approach your child carefully and not to get upset or accuse them of anything. The goal is to make sure they know they aren’t alone and that you will be understanding of whatever they are going through.

Fortunately, there are many effective, accessible treatment options for teens dealing with depression.

Why Is Depression So Common Among Teens?

We don’t know all the reasons why so many teenagers develop mental health disorders, or why the mental health of so many teenagers seems to change when they reach a certain age. But we do know at least some of the contributing factors.

For one thing, teenagers are dealing with a lot of rapid changes, personally, interpersonally, and physically. Their minds are going through a phase of rapid development, and a lot of their support systems are switching from their parents and immediate families to their peers and outside adults in their lives.

Being a teenager also comes with a lot of external pressures that may factor into new mental health developments, including things like trauma, changing self-esteem, discovering their sexuality, economic pressure, academic pressure, and the challenges of puberty.

That said, many of those factors are the same as they have always been, yet rates of teen depression are rising, especially among girls. This could mean depression is becoming more common or that teens are facing new and more psychologically challenging stressors around this time in their lives. But it could also mean we are getting better at recognizing and addressing depression; this could indicate higher statistical rates of depression but similar overall experiences of depression.

Signs Your Teen Might Be Dealing With Depression

Is It Time to Get Help for Your Teen?

There are 3 basic aspects of treatment when it comes to depression: therapy with a trained and licensed professional; medications, which can help balance your teen’s neurochemistry and reduce the overall symptoms of depression; and lifestyle changes, like getting lots of exercise or eating a more balanced diet.

Most successful treatments for depression combine more than one or more therapeutic approaches tailored to the teen’s situation. Your child may benefit from family therapy or sessions with specific important people in their lives. These sessions help all participants find new ways to express themselves and interact.

At BasePoint Academy, we focus on the teen’s perspective and stage of development to create dynamic treatment plans that incorporate more than one type of care and help your adolescent develop the social and emotional skills they need to thrive.

Expert Teen Mental Health Support at BasePoint Academy

Unipolar depression can present significant challenges for your teen and family, but professional support makes recovery possible. BasePoint Academy offers specialized teen mental health treatment in the Dallas, Texas, area. Our comprehensive programs include Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs), Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs), and other targeted services for depression treatment in teens.

Our team will conduct a thorough mental health assessment to ensure a personalized approach to your teen’s care. We also accept plans from a variety of insurance providers, including BCBS, UMR, Aetna, Carelon, and Cigna, making therapy for teens near Dallas more accessible.

Whether you’re looking for therapy, group counseling for depression, or answers to questions like “How much does therapy for teens cost?” BasePoint Academy is here to provide guidance every step of the way.

Reach out to us to learn more about our treatment programs, admissions process, and what you and your teen can expect to get out of treatment here.

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• Endogenous Depression – What Is Endogenous Depression?
• Situational Depression – Symptoms of Situational Depression
• Cost of Depression Therapy Treatment for Teens and Adolescents in Dallas, Texas
• Unipolar Depression – Signs of Unipolar Depression & How to Help
• Chronic Depression – Learn About Teen Chronic Depression
• What Depression In Teen Girls Looks Like
• What Depression In Teen Boys Looks Like
• Depression Treatment Center for Teens and Adolescents in Dallas, Texas
• Free Depression Assessment and Testing for Teens & Adolescents in Dallas, Texas
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