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Can Young Kids or Teens Suffer With Depression?
Not only adults become depressed. Children and teenagers can also have depression; nearly 6% of our children and adolescents suffer from depression.
A child who used to play often with friends starts spending most of the time alone. Things that were once fun, now bring little joy to the depressed child. Children and adolescents who are depressed may say they want to be dead, or may talk about suicide. Depressed adolescents may abuse alcohol or drugs as a way to try to feel better. Children and adolescents who cause trouble at home or at school may actually be depressed, but because the youngster may not appear to be sad, parents and teachers may not realize the troublesome behavior is actually a sign of depression.
Symptoms: Just as with adults, the causes for each child's or adolescent's depression are different. However there are some common symptoms. Depression is defined as an illness when the depressive symptoms persist and interfere with a child's or adolescent's ability to function normally. If one or more of the following symptoms lasts for two weeks or longer, depression is a possibility and parents should seek immediate help from your family doctor or your EFAP counselor:
- Frequent sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness or feelings of guilt.
- A major change in eating patterns-for adolescents, this can appear as purging food or restricting eating.
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.
- Fatigue.
- Irritability.
- Crying.
- Being bored.
- Inability to concentrate.
- Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping.
- Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure.
- Either a fear of death or a fascination with dying; recurring thoughts or expressions of suicide.
Since children may not possess the vocabulary to express how they are feeling, depression can manifest itself in changed behavior. Behaviors that may signal child or adolescent depression include:
- Frequent absences from school or drop in school performance.
- Lack of interest in playing with friends, social isolation, difficulty in relationships.
- Excessive fidgeting or loss of energy.
- Talk of or efforts to run away from home.
- Inexplicable outbursts of shouting, complaining, or hostility.
- Being bored.
- Expressions of fear or anxiety.
- Aggressive or antisocial behavior.
- Reckless behavior.
- Frequent vague or non-specific physical complaints such as muscle aches arms, stomach aches, head aches, or tiredness.
- Among adolescents, alcohol or substance abuse.
Causes: There are many possible factors that can contribute to depression. For some children, depression is the result of a combination of factors, while for others, a single cause can be responsible for the onset of depression. Common contributing factors include the following:
- Stressful Life Events.
- Catastrophic illness or death of a close family member or friend, parents divorcing, moving to a new place, or any unwelcome change in life patterns can be risk factors for depression. Research also indicates that stressors in the form of social isolation or early-life deprivation can lead to permanent changes in brain function that increase susceptibility to depressive symptoms.
- Severe or Chronic Illness.
- Severe or long-term illness can bring on or aggravate depression.
Medication Side-Effects: Some medications cause depressive symptoms as side effects. In addition, different drugs can interact in unforeseen ways when taken together. It is important that each physician and pharmacist knows all the different types and dosages of medicine being taken.
Biological Factors: Genetics research indicates that vulnerability to depression results from the influence of brain chemistry imbalance acting together with environmental factors. Modern brain imaging technologies are revealing that in depression, neural circuits responsible for the regulation of moods, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behavior fail to function properly, and that critical neurotransmitters-chemicals used by nerve cells to communicate-are out of balance.
Co-Occurrence of Depression and Anxiety: Research has revealed that depression can co-exist with anxiety disorders (e.g., panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social phobia, or generalized anxiety disorder). Rates of depression are especially high in children with post-traumatic stress disorder, a debilitating condition that can occur after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened.
Substance Abuse and Addictions: It is estimated that 25% of people with substance abuse suffer from major depression.
Family History: Evidence suggests that depression runs in families. Still, just because a child has family members with depression does not guarantee that he or she will develop it. Similarly, a child may get depression even if no one else in their family has experienced it.
Treatment: Parents are urged to respond quickly to depressive symptoms displayed by their children. While depression is a real illness that requires professional help, it is highly treatable; 80% to 90% of all cases of depression-even the severest cases-improve once they receive appropriate treatment. Basic ways to treat child and adolescent depression include therapy, or for some cases, therapy along with medication.
Therapy: There are therapists who are especially experienced at helping
children and adolescents who are suffering from depression. Therapy provides a safe, comforting, and confidential setting in which to receive the kind of help and understanding that can best assist in first relieving, then understanding, and finally recovering from the effects of depression. It can take as few as one to two weeks for a youngster to receive relief from their symptoms with therapy. Comprehensive treatment often includes both individual and family therapy.
Medication: Antidepressant medication is often prescribed when treating cases of child or adolescent depression because of the relatively quick relief it can bring to physical symptoms. Once medication treatment begins, minor improvement is usually seen in one to two weeks and the full effect of relief becomes evident approximately three to four weeks later.....4 Therapy Network
Self Assessment: Is it depression?
Everyone gets “the blues” from time to time, but when sadness just won’t go away, it could be depression. As you answer these questions, think about how you’ve been feeling every day, most of the day, for at least the past 2 weeks. HIGHLIGHT, PASTE, and PRINT the following for you to truthfully answer in your own space and time.....remember be honest.
Questions
1. I've noticed a change in my sleeping pattern such as difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently throughout the night, or oversleeping in the morning.- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
2. I feel like I've lost interest in activities that were once enjoyable for me.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
3. I've been feeling sad, blue, unhappy, or “down in the dumps.”
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
4. When the phone rings, I tend to ignore it even when I know it may be a good friend calling.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
5. It feels like I’ve been drained of all energy and that to do just about anything will take more effort than I can summon.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
6. I've been feeling weepy and crying a lot.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
7. It seems as though everything is going wrong no matter how hard I'm trying.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
8. I've been turning down invitations to get together with friends because trying to socialize feels like it will take more energy than I have or because I think my“down” mood will just depress everyone else.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
9. I find myself purposefully or absentmindedly engaging in risky behavior such as crossing the street when the signal is red, or not wearing my seat belt.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
10. I've been staying home from work or school because of my depressed mood.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
11. It's been taking longer and has seemed harder than usual to make decisions.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
12. I feel inadequate, like a failure, and not very likable.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
13. I've been getting headaches, stomachaches, backaches, or pains in my joints or muscles that can’t be traced to a physical illness or injury.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
14. I've been thinking a lot about my own death.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
15. I've gained weight or lost weight without really trying.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
16. I find it hard to concentrate for any real length of time.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
17. I've been thinking about suicide.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
18. I've been drinking more alcohol than I usually do.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
19. It seems like I've lost interest in sex--or I'm experiencing sexual difficulties.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
20. I've been feeling restless and/or irritable.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
21. Eating seems to be more trouble than it’s worth.
- Not at all
- Very seldom
- Sometimes
- Most of the time
- All of the time
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