As a parent it can be difficult to know whether your teen is experiencing depression or normal teenage behavior. This post provides valuable information for parents of teens. Less than 33% of teens with depression get help, yet eighty percent of teens with depression can be successfully treated. Untreated depression in teens can have detrimental consequences.
In many circles there exists a myth that childhood depression doesn’t exist, but that simply isn’t the truth. Although it may be more common for adolescents to experience depression, children as young as 3 years old can have depression. Over the past three decades I’ve seen the incidence of childhood and teen depression rise significantly. It’s a serious illness, but also one that is treatable.
One in four children will have mental health issues by the time they are 18 years old. In this episode, licensed professional counselor, Michelle Nietert, and I talk about how to recognize depression in children, what parents can do to help, and how parents can know when it’s time to seek outside help for their children.
The enemy comes to steal our joy, kill our peace and destroy our identity. But don’t despair. Scripture says “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Once we are aware of the enemy’s tactics, we can fight them head on.
I remember a time in my life when I believed the lie that “I must just be joy-immune.” I now know that was a lie, but I’ve also come to realize that sometimes we have to intentionally look for joy amongst the rubble of our lives. In today’s post, Adria Wilkins shares about all the creation God has given to us to enjoy. When was the last time you took a walk in God’s creation and noticed the blessings along the way? They aren’t always in plain sight. Sometimes, we have to look around for them.
