As a parent, you probably know your teen better than most people do. You’ve seen them grow, change and go through challenges. However, when it comes to mental health challenges like depression, the signs of struggle aren’t always easy to spot. Some of the most serious symptoms can be the quietest ones.

Many teens don’t show their sadness in obvious ways. Instead of crying or asking for help, they might become quieter, more withdrawn or simply “not themselves.” Learning how to spot quiet signs of depression can be key to providing the support your teen needs.

6 quiet signs of depression in teenagers

• They seem tired all the time — Depression can drain a person’s energy. It can also mess with sleep patterns, making it hard to fall asleep at night or hard to wake up in the morning. Some teens experience insomnia when they’re depressed. Others may get a lot of sleep and still feel tired after 10 hours of rest. If your teen always seems exhausted, depression could be the cause. Some behaviors that might indicate depression include frequent daytime napping, struggling to get out of bed in the morning and complaints of feeling tired no matter how much your teen sleeps.
• They’ve lost interest in hobbies — Has your teen suddenly stopped caring about things they used to love? Maybe they no longer want to go to practice for their after-school sport, text their friends or listen to their favorite music. This loss of interest is sometimes called anhedonia, and it’s a common sign of depression. Because anhedonia isn’t typically as obvious as sadness, it can more easily go unnoticed. When you ask their teen about their lost interest, they might say something dismissive like, “It’s just not fun anymore.” A person’s interests do tend to shift during their teenage years. However, if your teen is suddenly losing interest in everything they previously enjoyed, there might be more going on beyond typical personal growth. 
• They’re more irritable than usual — Parents often assume that mood swings are just part of being a teen. This can make depression-related irritability go under the radar. It’s important to remember that depression doesn’t just manifest as sadness. Many teens with depression feel frustrated, restless or annoyed. These feelings can build up and show up as snappy comments, eye rolls, or even fights with family and friends.
• Their eating habits have changed — Depression often has a big impact on a person’s eating habits. Depression may cause your teen to lose their appetite. It may also lead to them eating more, as they might use food to cope. You might notice your teen skipping meals, eating very little or secretly eating more than usual. While depression-related eating changes aren’t always extreme, they’re important to notice. Left unaddressed, they can lead to rapid weight loss or gain and negatively impact your teen’s physical health.
• They’re isolating themselves — One study of teens in Brazil found social isolation to be a central aspect of how teens experienced depression. The study quotes one 15-year-old participant as saying, “I didn’t want to study or talk to anyone, I didn’t want to be friends with anybody. I just wanted to be quiet, and be by myself.” Depression often makes people feel like they’re a burden or that no one understands them. As a result, your teen might hide what they’re feeling and keep everything inside. They may feel like they’re better off alone. Isolation can be harmful because it can keep your teen from getting vital social support.
• They self-criticize often — Depression often brings a harsh inner voice. Teens may start saying things like “I’m such a failure” or “Nothing I do matters.” These thoughts may not always be shared out loud, though. Instead, you might notice them in your teen’s body language or behavior. Your teen may avoid conflict and become very apologetic whenever they make a mistake. 

If the signs of your teen’s depression aren’t going away and are starting to affect school, friendships or other parts of daily life, it may be time to get professional help.

Lightfully Teen is here to help your family find hope, healing and a way forward. At Lightfully Teen, we offer mental health treatment for teens who are struggling with depression, anxiety and other emotional challenges. Our licensed clinical therapists use a compassionate, evidence-based approach that’s tailored to each client’s personality and needs. We can help identify the quiet signs and symptoms of your teen’s depression, then work to address the core drivers behind those signs and symptoms.

Change is possible. If you think your teen might be showing quiet signs of depression, contact us to ask about an assessment. We’ll explore the next steps together.