Child Depression

Child great depression, child abuse depression, child depression statistics

The lack of understanding depression, just as many other illnesses is quite common. The main thing is to understand that depression goes beyond just feeling sad or “down”. It also goes beyond the inability to cope with the difficulties that life brings. Depression is far more serious, more persistent and does often affect how a person would function in everyday life.

A misconception about childhood depression is that people believe that every child enjoys a happy carefree life. Children have no control over their lives which rendering them powerless. Imagine living each day in this state. Most people will close their eyes to the fact that it is a frightening event and they know they would not be able to cope with the reality that children are faced with it each and every day. Normal adults not suffering from depression, have the opportunity to make choices that will enable us to change how we live and what we do in life. Children on the other hand do not have that choice and this constraint causes frustration sets in.

As with adult depression, there is no one cause of childhood depression. There are several factors that make children prone to depression that any Mental Health person takes into consideration when making their diagnosis. Factors such as family history of suicide or mental illness is one of the main things that is taken into consideration along with reports of abuse (physical, emotional or sexual), any illnesses that the child may have had, and finally, tragic events that the child may have experiences (death, divorce or abandonment). The list goes on.

There are also several symptoms as well. Note however that these symptoms that are listed, are not limited and again, can vary from child to child. Symptoms include constant sadness and sometimes extreme irritability often resulting in a temper tantrum, low self-esteem or the complete feeling of worthlessness, loss of interest in activities that they might have enjoyed at one time, and just as adults, change in appetite that can be seen as either weight loss or weight gain.

A child suffering from depression can also show visible signs of changes in their sleep patterns causing them to be awaken at odd hours along with the inability to fall back to sleep. They also experience insomnia, causing them to fall to sleep at all. Children often experience the inability to concentrate, extreme anger or rage, headaches and other pains in parts of the body including the stomach, lack of energy or the complete opposite – hyperactivity, and again, recurring thoughts of death or suicide.

Discuss with the child’s doctor any events in that the child may have experience that could possibly be the underlying motive of childhood depression. Children feel down especially when there is an underlying cause such as peer pressure, grades, or even a loss of a loved one. However if the feelings persists and they begin to interfere with the child’s normal daily activities, professional help is definitely needed.