Is
My Child Depressed?
Many of us have grown up with a belief that children are resilient, or adapt to situations easily, or bounce back quickly. For many children, this is true. A healthy child will often deal with change, stress, or loss quite effectively with the help and support of adult caretakers. Many factors, however, play a role in the child’s ability to ‘bounce back quickly.’ One factor is the quality and stability of home life. A child who feels consistently loved and cared for by unchanging primary caregiver(s) will have a better chance at coping than one who does not. Also, having a stable home or homes (possibly both parents’ homes when divorced) will increase a child’s likelihood of easily adapting. Another factor is the child her/himself. Each child is unique and may be more sensitive or less sensitive to change, stress, or loss. This coupled with other factors may increase or decrease their resiliency.
Situations that challenge a child’s ability to cope include the advent of the information age, such as television, video games, computers and the internet. With these, the children of today are being exposed to much more violence, sex, substance abuse, and other adult material than ever before. This can be frightening, stressful, or just plain confusing to children who are not yet ready to handle these mature issues. In addition, the more common situations of conflict in the home, the divorce of parents, or the serious illness or death of a grandparent or other family member can be very challenging to children of all ages. With all that our children have to deal with these days it is not surprising to realize that children sometimes do become depressed.
How do you recognize if your child becomes depressed? Once again, children are individually unique. Not all children will show the same symptoms. The child’s environment and recent events need to be taken into consideration. Changes in behavior are important to notice, and watch for the following symptoms.
|
Symptom |
Children |
Adolescents |
|
Sleep Disturbances |
Difficulty falling asleep or sleeping through the night, difficult or early awakening |
Reversal of normal pattern--retiring early, rising early, etc. |
|
Eating Habits |
Significant weight loss or weight gain |
Loss of interest in food and eating |
|
Activity Level |
Marked increase or decrease in normal level of activity |
Complacent |
|
Social Interaction |
Loss of interest in peers and playing |
Withdrawn |
|
Self Image/Self- Esteem |
Feeling bad about self or abilities |
Feelings of worthlessness, puts self down, does not defend self |
|
(Adapted from Suicide Risk: Assessment and Response Guidelines, 1990 Pergamon Press, Inc.) |
||
The presence of the symptoms above do not necessarily mean your child is depressed, nor is the list all-inclusive. These symptoms may indicate a number of other problems or issues. If you are concerned that your child may be depressed, begin by taking him/her to their pediatrician to determine whether or not there is a physical cause to their symptoms. If there is no physical problem, ask your pediatrician for a referral to a child therapist, or check with your health insurance for approved providers, or call Counseling for Modern Life. A child therapist can then assess for depression or other problems and provide treatment or other referrals as necessary.
© 1999 Lori Godin
Lori Godin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in San Jose. She can be reached at 408.260.9996
E-mail her at lgodin@pacbell.net
or by clicking the mailbox link: 