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Dealing With a Depressed Child

Can children really suffer from depression ?

The answer is yes. I will be sharing an article from Web MD that speaks about depression in children and how we may identify the symptoms.

 Childhood depression is different from the normal "blues" and everyday emotions that occur as a child develops. Just because a child seems sad, doesn't necessarily mean he or she has significant depression. If the sadness becomes persistent, or if disruptive behavior that interferes with normal social activities, interests, schoolwork, or family life develops, it may indicate that he or she has a depressive illness. Keep in mind that while depression is a serious illness, it is also a treatable one.

How Can I Tell if My Child Is Depressed?

The symptoms of depression in children vary. It is often undiagnosed and untreated because they are passed off as normal emotional and psychological changes that occur during growth. Early medical studies focused on "masked" depression, where a child's depressed mood was evidenced by acting out or angry behavior. While this does occur, particularly in younger children, many children display sadness or low mood similar to adults who are depressed. The primary symptoms of depression revolve around sadness, a feeling of hopelessness, and mood changes.

Signs and symptoms of depression in children include:

  • Irritability or anger.
  • Continuous feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
  • Social withdrawal.
  • Increased sensitivity to rejection.
  • Changes in appetite -- either increased or decreased.
  • Changes in sleep -- sleeplessness or excessive sleep.
  • Vocal outbursts or crying.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Fatigue and low energy.
  • Physical complaints (such as stomachaches, headaches) that don't respond to treatment.
  • Reduced ability to function during events and activities at home or with friends, in school, extracurricular activities, and in other hobbies or interests.
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
  • Impaired thinking or concentration.
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

Not all children have all of these symptoms. In fact, most will display different symptoms at different times and in different settings. Although some children may continue to function reasonably well in structured environments, most kids with significant depression will suffer a noticeable change in social activities, loss of interest in school and poor academic performance, or a change in appearance. Children may also begin using drugsor alcohol, especially if they are over the age of 12. Although relatively rare in youths under 12, young children do attempt suicide -- and may do so impulsively when they are upset or angry. Girls are more likely to attempt suicide, but boys are more likely to actually kill themselves when they make an attempt. Children with a family history of violence, alchohol abuse, or physical or sexual abuse are at greater risk for suicide, as are those with depressive symptoms.

As parents we may also want to study our children each child is different. You have children that will say things randomly that will indicate what is contributing to their depression. Some children will keep everything in therefore as parents it is important to pay attention to signs that can indicate the child is depressed.

Communication is vital and this should not be developed when they are adoloscents when they have already formed relationships with peers that may have a vital role in their decision making.

We should form a bond with our children before they venture into the world and start socializing with other individuals.

This creates an environment where they may create a welcoming environment where they open up to you with their problems. This may not happen in all cases but in some cases it may be rewarding.

I hope my excerpt from Webmd.com was helpful along with my personal input. 

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