It is not widely known that children can also become depressed. When we say to some families in our clinics, "Your child may be depressed," the answer we usually get is: "What's wrong with him, he's just a child!" It looks like this. In fact, depression is not a mood disorder defined only for adults. Sometimes children can also become depressed.
At this point, the real problem arises in the difficulty of diagnosis. Since children cannot express themselves and evaluate their emotions as well as adults, it becomes difficult to detect if they become depressed. However, the problem can be detected by parents or clinicians who are knowledgeable about this subject.
Is my child depressed?
There are some differences between adult depression and childhood depression. . The evaluation should be made accordingly. When an adult becomes depressed, his activity decreases, he withdraws into himself and becomes inactive. On the contrary, when it comes to children; Excessive activity, anger, shouting and some destructive behaviors may be observed. Other symptoms of childhood depression are; These can be listed as excessive anxiety, feeling worthless, emotional outbursts, tension, irritability, decreased communication with peers, decrease in school success, beliefs that they will lose their parents, avoidance of activities they previously enjoyed, change (increase or decrease) in eating and sleeping patterns.
One of the critical points that should not be overlooked at this point is that the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and childhood depression are sometimes confused. The point to note here is that the child with hyperactivity is constantly overactive; but the depressed child is sometimes still and sometimes in motion.
Why do children become depressed?
Loss of a loved one, moving to another place, school The child may become depressed in situations such as change of heart, parents' divorce, the child not being able to make friends and being alone.
What should I do?
In situations such as depression, families must have a child. -They should consult an adolescent therapist. When this problem is left untreated It is becoming a problem that gradually becomes more serious and severe. It may even cause other problems in addition to this problem. For example; If a person's school success decreases due to depression, he will not be successful in the following years, he will become a socially isolated individual due to his depression and will be rejected by society. This will turn the person into an angry, aggressive, anxious and unsuccessful person in the process.
As a result; Childhood depression is a mood disorder as serious as adult depression. The necessary sensitivity must be shown from the moment the situation is noticed.
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