Irritability and hostility

• Many adolescents become irritable and irrational as they test their boundaries with their parents. But parents should be concerned when a teen cannot move past an angry, hostile outburst, or frustrated, angry, grumpy moods seem to be the norm with their child.
  
  

Extreme sadness and crying

• If your teenager never seems to smile anymore, or bursts into uncontrollable fits of tears, he may be depressed.
  
  

Isolation from friends

• Depressed teenagers distance themselves from some of their peers but usually still hang around a few. Some hang around a new negative group of friends to rebel against their parents.
  
  

Disinterest in fun activities

• Besides distancing themselves from friends, depressed teens no longer enjoy their favorite hobbies or outings.
  
  

Low self-esteem and feelings of guilt

• Depressed teenagers often feel guilty for things that are out of their control, and feel like everything is their fault, furthering their low self-esteem.
  
  

Self-mutilation

• Teenagers, who are stressed and depressed, may cut themselves to relieve the stress they feel. Parents must intervene because teens might accidentally commit suicide.
  
  

Suicidal Thoughts

• To some depressed teens, suicide seems like an option because it would end the pain forever. Parents must take their teenager's threats seriously and get them help.