Depression
Depression
Nationally Accredited | 25+ Years of Experience | Locally Owned
Nationally Accredited25+ Years of ExperienceLocally Owned
Over the past two decades, depression in children has been taken very seriously. The depressed child may pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent, or worry that the parent may die. Older children may sulk, get into trouble at school, be negative, grouchy, and feel misunderstood.
Because normal behaviors vary from one childhood stage to another, it can be difficult to tell whether a child is just going through a temporary "phase" or is suffering from depression. Sometimes the parents become worried about how the child's behavior has changed, or a teacher mentions that "your child doesn't seem to be himself." tor will probably suggest that the child be evaluated, preferably by a psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of children. Severe depression can lead to suicide which has become the third leading cause of death for ages 10 to 24 years old.
- Symptoms include low energy, apathy, tiredness and poor motivation
- Failure to complete tasks may make feelings of guilt and lack of confidence worse
- Appetite may increase or decrease (resulting in weight gain or loss)
- Sleep rhythms are often disrupted (resulting in insomnia at night or hypersomnia during the day) and
- Low emotional responsiveness
Treatment for Feelings of Sadness and Hopelessness
Occasionally being sad or feeling hopeless is a part of every child's life. However, some children feel sad or uninterested in things that they used to enjoy. They feel helpless or hopeless in situations they are able to change. When children feel persistent sadness and hopelessness, they may be diagnosed with depression.
Learn more about the symptoms and examples of depression in children below. If your child has displayed depressive behaviors, contact Our Children Our Future Inc today.
Examples of Depressive Behaviors in Children
- Feeling sad, hopeless, or irritable a lot of the time
- Not wanting to do or enjoy doing fun things
- Showing changes in eating patterns - eating a lot more or a lot less than usual
- Showing changes in sleep patterns - sleeping a lot more or a lot less than normal
- Showing changes in energy - being tired and sluggish or tense and restless a lot of the time
- Having a hard time paying attention
- Feeling worthless, useless, or guilty
- Showing self-injury and self-destructive behavior
Some children may not talk about their helpless and hopeless thoughts, and they may not appear sad. Depression might also cause a child to make trouble or act unmotivated, causing others not to notice that the child is depressed or to incorrectly label the child as a troublemaker or lazy.
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