Depression can be defined as a mental breakdown or mood disorder experienced by an individual in the face of events and situations that he cannot cope with in his life. While this situation is generally acceptable in adults, it is not accepted in childhood. However, in many observed clinical cases and studies, depression is observed in children from infancy (around 6 months).
When we look at the causes of childhood depression, the bond established by the mother with the baby is seen as the earliest cause of depression. The mother's failure to bond with the baby, not accepting him, confusion of motherhood and femininity roles, not establishing sufficient physical contact with him, and lack of eye contact lead to childhood depression. This situation is initially perceived as having physiological problems. The parent does not notice this much because it manifests itself as physiological distress rather than psychological distress, with symptoms such as the child crying a lot, being irritable, not sucking food or milk, and being excessively gassy. When we look at other causes of childhood depression, we can see that the child loses his/her mother or father (caregiver), the mother has emotional disorders, conflict between parents, depression in the parent, separation from the person to whom the bonding occurs, stressful situations and factors, inconsistent parental attitudes, school. We see events and situations such as failure and low self-confidence.
When we look at the incidence of depression, we see that girls and boys are at equal risk during childhood. Considering its frequency, it is seen in eight out of every hundred children.
Symptoms of depression seen in children more often manifest as somatic symptoms such as headache, abdominal pain, nausea and weakness, compared to adults. If we list the common complaints:
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Restlessness
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Crying
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Sleep problems.
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Weight loss, loss of appetite
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Problems in following the rules and discipline
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Remaining unresponsive to stimuli or lack of attention, impaired concentration
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Inability to make eye contact
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Throwing and breaking toys
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Not wanting to do things he/she likes
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Sometimes gas problems
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Difficulty making decisions
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Quick and frequent crying
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Learning difficulty
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Decrease in speech and curiosity
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Night fears
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Low self-confidence, self-resentment
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Slowness in thinking
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Disruption in developmental periods
Symptoms such as this should raise questions in parents. Of course, a depression label should not be placed on a child who shows one or two of these symptoms, but parents who observe many of these symptoms in their child are recommended to consult a specialist.
The symptoms of childhood depression may vary more depending on the age and developmental period of children compared to adults. We see different symptoms in children at each age because they develop and change faster than an adult. The depression symptoms of a 3-year-old child are not the same as the depression symptoms of a 12-year-old child.
So, what is the behavior of a child experiencing depression? A child experiencing depression may experience constant crying, quick anger, restlessness, boredom, and reluctance. Until adolescence, this child has very bad peer relationships and has difficulty making friends.
Since depression in children is less accepted in society than in adults, intervention in this problem is delayed that much. However, its low acceptance does not change the fact that it exists and is seen very frequently. Childhood depression is a serious, recurrent problem that negatively affects social and school life, but responds better than adults when treatment is started, and becomes chronic and causes more negative problems if treatment is not started. Since it is not understood early by parents, the treatment process is delayed. While parents who are sensitive and sensitive notice this situation and immediately seek support earlier, parents who are less sensitive and unaware of the problem apply due to symptoms related to the problem, such as conflicting with the child, being stubborn and not being able to cope with him/her.
It will pass as he grows up, being coy. He's doing it, he's so spoiled, the kid can do it anyway Attitudes of procrastination or ignoring, such as "let's wait a little longer", delay intervention in the child's real problem. Although the real problem is not seen, parents consider these behavioral and emotional problems in the child as a different problem and consult a specialist more frequently for intervention.
The child is not the only arm of the childhood depression intervention process. Parents and, if the child goes to school, the teacher are other arms of this process. With the psychoeducation given to the family about the problem and the information about the problem given to the teacher, the child continues and completes the treatment process earlier and more easily. Childhood depression gives much earlier and positive results with such a collaboration.
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