Signs of Childhood Depression

Sometimes the signs of depression are hard to see in a loved one, especially children. It can be almost impossible to recognize them in yourself sometimes. Most people say that a child has nothing to worry about, a childhood is a care-free existance, a time for happiness always! This statement reveals two major misconceptions. The first is that there is a major lack of understanding about clinical depression. It is not the same as the "blues" or "down" moods that everyone has from time to time, which may actually be caused by unhappiness with one's job, home life or other factors. Clinical depression may resemble these emotional dips, but it is much more pervasive, long-lasting, and life-threatening. It is not necessarily caused by an event or life-style in a child's life. The other misconception is that childhood is a carefree, trouble-free period in our lives. How many people can say that they didn't worry about peer acceptance, grades, making the team, growing up, did I make the right choice? or parental expectations? Adults often forget that children are powerless and have no control over their own lives. This can be a frightening and frustrating to live through day after day. Not all depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, it can be situational as well and short term. Either way there is always hope with depression that with the right diagnosis, perhaps medication, and support system, children can recover quickly sometimes from depression. Many times medications are not needed, and if they are required most have found that any side affects related to the meds are worth taking the medication rather than feeling depressed all the time!

If you think that your child or family memeber are showing signs of depression, above all else, remember that depression is not a "phase" that they are going through, and they cant just "snap" out of it! Talk therapy is key to getting a handle on this disorder and you should seek a medical professionals opinion on what kinda of therapy is best for your child. If your child is experiencing talk about death, or wanting to harm himself this should be taken SERIOUS and a medical professional should be called immediately or call 911. Parents of any child who is in immediate danger of harming himself (this includes talk of harming oneself, notes or letter written, suicide plans) or others should consider hospitalization. This is a tough choice for parents to make, but it must be emphasized that children do NOT commit suicide. I have recently had to take my old child to a crisis stabilization unit for major depression. Here I am, I have dealt with depression for 36 years and I didnt know my own childs depression had worsened to the point of suicidal idealation. Depression in children can be hidden so well, they are so afraid of making you worry, or disappointing you. I knew my child was experiencing some depression and he had done therapy for awhile. But he also had a physical trauma about8 months ago and underwent surgery. Everyone kept telling me the anethesia was causing his "blue" mood. He was seeming to get better, laughing, playing, his old self. But his siutation with his father (we divorced when he was 1 years old) was getting worse and a gap was building between them and the stress was overwhelming my child.
I have done so much research on MYSELF and my depression and disorders that I didnt research the effects my children could suffer. Dont regret like I do not crossing all your T's and dotting all your I's!!!! This is a real and dibilitaing disorder in children as well.

There is no clear cut way to diagnose depression in adults and even so in children. To this day scientist still dont know how the brain works exactly and what triggers our emotions and depression. So dont expect a quick fix to your problems, however science has come a long way over the years and infact most antidepressents were discovered my accident in trying to find a cure for tuberculosis back in the 1950's!

What we do know for certain is that children have risk factors in their lives which could predispose them to depression or could "trigger" depression. Among these are a family history of mental illness or suicide, abuse (physical, emotional or sexual), chronic illness, physical trauma, and the loss of a parent at an early age to death, divorce or abandonment. However, some infants exhibit depressive symptoms at an early age before most of these factors come into play, so there is an argument to be made for depression being wholly chemical in some children. Each child's depression is individual, and causes will be different for each one. And depression is felt in different ways for everyone. The depression could be wholly chemical, wholly due to psychological factors, or a combination of the two. More important than the cause is identifying the illness and treating it.

Signs of Depression in Children Are:


*Persistent sadness and/or irritability.
*Low self-esteem or feelings or worthlessness. A child may make such statements as, "I'm bad. I'm stupid. No one likes me."
*Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.
*Change in behavior, such as not sharing, name calling, hatefulness when your child never exhibited this behavior before. Children dont have the tools to control their feelings or articulate them and sometimes acting out is all they know how to do.
*Bedwetting after your child has been trained to use the toilet.
*Change in appetite (either increase or decrease).
*Change in sleep patterns (either increase or decrease).
*Difficulty concentrating.
*Anger and rage
*Headaches, stomachaches or other physical pains that seem to have no cause.
*Changes in activity level. The child either becomes more lethargic or more hyperactive.
*Recurring thoughts of death or suicide.

Any change in a child's behavior that seems to have no external or physical cause should be looked at. A low mood which results from a loss (death of a loved one, moving, changing schools) which lasts more than a few weeks should be considered possible depression and checked out.
If the child has bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, these symptoms could be present:
**abrupt, rapid mood swings
**periods of extreme hyperactivity
**prolonged, explosive temper tantrums or rages
**exaggerated ideas about self or abilities
Bipolar disorder is often mis-diagnosed as attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder.

Depression can go hand in hand with other mental disorders, such as eating disorders (especially in girls), ADHD, OCD, and harm to ones self or others, opositional behavior disorders. And should be treated in conjunction with depression.

TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION

Treatment for childhood depression can vary, medications are often prescribed with little to no side effects, and go a long way to relieving the symptoms your child is experiencing. Phycotherapy however is the key to alieveating depression in your child. This includes cognative and talk therapy and it is essential.
I know for myself growing up with depression that it had a major nagative impact on my life in so many ways, most parents back then didnt understand depression in children, let alone in adults. Mental Illness had a stigma attached even worse than it is today. Your support and love to your child, and HEARING what your child has to say is important at this time. Your child needs to feel that they have an adult who will keep them safe, be open with to talk their feelings out, and they need to know that you are behind them every step of the way, and most of all THEY ARE NOT CRAZY and not alone in this. You dont have to understand what they are feeling, but ackowleding that you know they are hurting is crucial. Research the internet, read books, talk to a therapist yourself - you dont want your childs depression to trigger your own! Parents should educate themselves as much as possible in order to make an informed decision.

If a child's depression has been caused wholly or in part by psychological factors, medication may relieve the depression, but the underlying cause will not be "cured" by medication alone. Therapy can help the child deal with his past in a healthy manner, and also in learning ways to cope with the very difficult process of growing up.Antidepressant medication for children is a controversial topic. There are no long-term studies that show what kind of impact this medication will have on a child's development. The maker of the antidepressant Effexor, in fact, has warned against it being prescribed for children, in fact I as an adult before I was diagnosed with having bipolar disorder was on Effexor for 6 months and I became suicidal. When I finally got a doctor that listened to all I had to say and stopped dissmissing my problems as menstral or situational he immediately took me off that medication and prescribed me Wellbutrin which for me was a God send. Medications affect people in different ways and what works for some, doesnt work for others, it will be a process of finding the right one for you or your child. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued the same warning for Paxil. There has also been some question as to whether the older tricyclic antidepressants are effective with children. Most professionals will recommend therapy as a first line of defense for a child with depression, except in cases where the child is severely depressed or suicidal.But keep in mind that it is almost a certainty that depression will have negative long-term effects on the child and his family. The decision of whether to treat a child with medication is wholly individual, depending on the severity of the child's depression and what toll it will take on the child's life without successful treatment.

Note: Bipolar disorder must be ruled out before a child is prescribed antidepressants for depression or stimulants, as these can trigger mania.Parents of a child with depression should start looking for a child psychiatrist by contacting the nearest university medical center, mental health clinic or organization, your insurance company should also have mental health referrals for you as well.

Depression may be something that is with you or your child for the rest of your life, but that doesnt have to be a prison sentence for you. Once I was receiving successful therapy and prescribed the right medications for myself my life turned around and today I'm happy and content for the first time in my life! There is hope for all of us and a treatment out there to fit your needs. Parents - dont give up, sometimes you have to fight and sacrifice many things to get your child the right help, but your biggest sacrifice may be your own feelings, its time to set them aside, and not take your childs depression personally!
R
"Love is, above all else, the gift of oneself."- Jean Anouilh