Many parents wonder whether children can really suffer from depression. The answer to this question is a resounding “Yes.” But childhood depression is quite different from the everyday emotions that occur when the child grows. Just because your kid is sad, it doesn’t mean that your child is suffering from depression. But if the sadness persists and interferes with his or her normal day to day life, your kid may have childhood depression. You should know that depression in kids is treatable with the right techniques. Here are some of the symptoms of depression in children.
The signs of depression in kids may vary. Most of the time, childhood depression goes undiagnosed! The reason being is that many parents discard these symptoms as normal emotional changes that occur during child growth. A feeling of sadness or hopelessness is the main symptom of childhood depression. Here are some of the most common symptoms of depression in children.
. A continuous feeling of hopelessness or sadness
. Mood changes
. Irritability or anger
. Sensitivity to rejection
. Social withdrawal
. Crying
. Low energy levels
. Difficulty in concentrating
. Changes in appetite
. Sleeplessness or excessive sleep
. A feeling of not being good enough
. Impaired thinking
. Thoughts of suicide and death
. Reduced ability to function during activities at home and in school.
Although not all kids will show all these symptoms, most of them would show some of these symptoms from time to time. Most of the time, children will suffer from significant depression when participating in social activities. Poor academic performance, loss of interest in other work, and change in appearance are quite common in these kids. The disorder is common in boys under the age of 10 years and girls under the age of 16 years. The latest statistics reveal that up to 3% of kids and 8% of adolescents in the United States suffer from childhood depression.
The causes of depression in children may vary. In fact, there could be a number of causes for the condition. A combination of factors such as family history, life events, physical health, genetic vulnerability, the environment, and biochemical disturbance can cause depression in kids. The condition isn’t a passing mood and won’t go away without the proper treatment.
You should choose a reputable and experienced therapist in the area to treat your kid. The therapist should have extensive experience in dealing with childhood depression. The aforementioned article provides information on some of the symptoms of childhood depression.