For some parents, it may be difficult to tell if their children are suffering from depression because typically they will not exhibit the same symptoms as adults. Nevertheless, children, just like adults, go through traumatic situations, and if they do not find ways to process them, it begins to affect their mental health. Although depressed children may not look sad, they can exhibit other behavioral changes. For example, if a child is suddenly getting into a lot of trouble in school yet they previously had an exemplary record, it could be an indication of underlying psychological problems. The following are some of the things to look out for if you think you child is depressed.
Separation anxiety
As children grow older, they are supposed to show signs of their increasing independence. When a child suddenly becomes clingy and seems to suffer from anxiety at the thought of being separated from their parents, then you could be suffering from depression. This separation anxiety may stem from an irrational fear that something bad is going to happen to their parents or just an overwhelming need to feel secure next to their parents. It would be advisable to see a child psychologist to determine what the cause of this sudden onset separation anxiety is.
Anhedonia and irritability
Anhedonia refers to a person's inability to enjoy daily life's pleasures. For instance, a child exhibiting anhedonia will no longer be interested in their toys, playing with their friends or other things that would typically excite them. In addition to anhedonia. Irritability is another change of mood that could indicate the development of depression. Irritability in children can be expressed in a number of ways. The most common are angry outbursts from the affected child, which seemingly appear to be unprovoked. Your child may also show signs of irritability if they are having inappropriate reactions, such as overreacting to minor matters. Overall, a drastic change of your child's attitude to an overall negative one could indicate that they are suffering from depression.
Changes in sleep patterns
Sleep patterns in children tend to be the same, day in and day out. This is especially true if they have their time scheduled for them. However, a change in the state of their mental health can also cause a significant change in their sleeping pattern. For example, you may find that a child who used to wake up bright and early will now be finding it more difficult to get up on time in the morning. On the other hand, a child who had no trouble sleeping may now start suffering from insomnia. Any sleep changes that you notice in your offspring should be addressed as soon as possible.
For more help, consider counseling.
Share21 September 2016
My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for nearly a decade. It has been really hard to deal with the stress and guilt of the process, including grieving the babies that we have lost through miscarriages. We have both gone through periods of feeling guilty and responsible for the problems we have had conceiving; although, the doctors have never been able to work out exactly why we haven't been able to have a baby. Counselling has helped us to deal with our grief and has helped us to draw closer through this hard time rather than growing apart.
