Learn to recognize childhood depression symptoms. Depression is associated with many difficulties including learning problems, acting out in school, dropping out of school...
Sadness is a universal emotion that no one is immune from, everyone in the world feels sad in some way or another on a daily basis for various reasons. The state of feeling sad is called "depression" and usually refers to a condition of feeling sad very often, for a prolonged period of time.
Depression is one of the leading causes of poor school performance in young people. It is also associated with many other difficulties including learning problems, acting out in school, dropping out of school, delinquency, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, phobias, panic disorder, eating disorders, excessive risk taking behavior, violence and suicide.
Childhood depression is just as serious as adult depression. However, it is important to recognize that children have unique signs to be aware of when recognizing and diagnosing depression.
Depression in children may manifest itself in different ways, in different age groups. The younger a child is, the more difficult it is for them to understand their feelings, to identify them, and thus, to put a label to them. The younger a child is, the harder it is for them to be able to translate their feelings into thoughts and this makes it very difficult to express their feelings into words.
In children ages 3 through 5, the most common emotional signs of depression are sadness, a detached or far away look, displays of anger and aggression, a timid or fearful appearance, shyness, a spacey look, moodiness and irritability. Young children who are depressed may have physical symptoms that are unexplainable such as headaches, stomach aches, cramps, nausea, failure to thrive, wetting the bed, asthma, tiredness, difficulties getting to sleep, and nightmares. They may display aggressive behaviors, such as hitting or fighting, or may suddenly start lying or stealing.
Depressed children may suddenly become disinterested in activities or things that they once enjoyed. They may show unusual preoccupation with morbid things, such as death or dying. They may engage in risk taking behaviors, and may be prone to accidents and injuries. They may exhibit self-endangering behaviors such as head banging. The depressed child may also appear to be listless or lethargic. Or, they may be hyper and out of control. Depressed children at this age may also have difficulty separating from their parents and may be difficult to comfort.
If you have concerns, speak to your child about how they are feeling. Keep in mind that children in this age group have difficulty putting their feelings into words. When in doubt, seek the guidance of a mental health professional.
In older children, preteens and teenagers, the most common emotional signs of depression are irritability, moodiness, a cynical and angry attitude, a continual sad mood, feelings of apathy, a gloomy or dark look, feelings of loneliness, displays of anger and hostility, a low threshold for frustration, and an angry or hostile appearance.
Adolescents are more likely to verbalize their negative beliefs about themselves than are younger children. The depressed adolescent may express the perception that they are not liked or accepted by their peers and they are unloved by their family. They may perceive that they are unable to fit in with their peers. This may be associated with self-derogatory thoughts and verbalizations regarding their intelligence, physical appearance, or attractiveness to others.
Adolescents who are depressed may verbalize of physical complaints, especially headaches. They may complain of insomnia, difficulties in getting to sleep, or remaining asleep. Consequently they may have feelings of tiredness or exhaustion, and of an inability to feel rested even after a full night's sleep.
Depressed adolescents may display a changed attitude about the importance of school, and they may refuse to go because they do not feel that they are getting anything out of it. Their grades will most certainly suffer and they may become belligerent or hostile towards the teacher, or to other authority figures at the school.
Depressed adolescents may display aggressive behaviors such as hitting and fighting. They may ditch school and start lying or stealing. They may begin to sexually act out their conflicts and frustrations, and may behave in a promiscuous manner, with little or no concern for the potential consequences of their behavior.
Depressed adolescents may withdraw from family or friends, and may not want to interact with others. They may show little or no interest in activities or things that they once enjoyed. They may show unusual preoccupations with morbid things, such as the occult, death or dying, and they may verbalize a wish to be dead or to commit suicide.
Parents who have any concerns regarding depression or any other mental health or emotional problem with their children should get help from qualified mental health professionals.
