Depressioncanseriouslyaffectthegrowthanddevelopmentofchildren.Itcannotonlyaffecttheacademiclifeofachildbutalsohisorheremotionalwellbeing.Therefore,itisessentialtodiagnoseandtreatdepressionbeforeitistoolate.Haveaquicklookatsomesymptomsofdepressionandtipsforhelpingadepressedchild.Depressioninchildrenisnotrarethesedays.Therearemanythingsachildgoesthroughandfacelotofanxietyandstresseveninschoollife.Butparentscanplayanimportantroleinhelpingchildrenovercomesuchsituations.Alongwithanxietyandstresschildrenhandle,therearemanythingsthataffectchild’scapacitytocopewithunfavourablecircumstances.Everyparentwantstogivechildrenwhatevertheywant.However,havingveryhighexpectationsfromchildren,physicalandmentalabuse,fightsandseparationofparents,notfulfillingtheirbasicneedsmayleadtodepressioninthem.Letustakealookatthecommonsymptomsofdepressioninchildrenandtipsforhelpingadepressedchild.InthisarticleSymptomsofChildhoodDepressionTalktotheChildSpendTimeWiththeChildEducateYourselfTakeProfessionalHelpIfNeededEncouragetheChildToSocializeAlternativeHealingTechniquesSymptomsofChildhoodDepressionHerearesomecommonsymptomsofdepressioninchildren.YourchildissadorirritableformostpartofthedayNotenjoyingthingsthatheorsheusedtolikeHashamperedorverylittlesleepinthenightFeelslackofenergyandisunabletodosimpletasksChangeineatinghabit–loworincreasedappetiteSuddenincreaseordecreaseinbodyweightLowself-esteemNotwantingtospendtimewithfamilyandfriendsPreferstositaloneoftenAchesandpainswithoutanyreasonFindingitdifficulttoconcentrateormakechoiceFrequentfeelingsofdeathorsuicideAlthoughsomeofthesesignsmayoccurinachildonedayoranother,butifthesymptomsappeartogetherandnearlyeveryday,theyaresignsofdepression.HowtoHelpaDepressedChild?Hereishowyoucanhelpadepressedchild.1.TalktotheChildThebestthingistoknowwhatthereasonwhychildisfeelingsodepressed.Butremember,thisisnotveryeasyespeciallyifyouhavenotbeenspendingtimewiththechildlately.Youmighthavetohelpthechildbygivinghintwhetheranythingisdisturbinghimorherathomeorinschoolorsomewhereelse.2.SpendTimeWiththeChildTrytospendasmuchtimeaspossiblewiththechildsothatheorshefeelssafe,secureandloved.Ifachildisdepressed,talkingisthelastthingshewoulddo.Youwillhavetochoosesomeactivitythatyoutwocandotogethersothatshestartstalking.3.EducateYourselfWithadventofinternetgatheringinformationonanythingisnothard.Findouteverythingyoucantoknowwhatkindandlevelofdepressionthechildisgoingthrough.Donotwastelotoftime,buttryonyourowntohelphimorherrecover.4.TakeProfessionalHelpIfNeededThereisnoneedtofreakoutifyouarenotabletohelpachildgetnormal.Takeproperhelpsothatmedicationandtherapycanhelpthechild.Justkeepinmindthataslongasyourchildisunderagooddoctorandhassupportiveparents,heorshehasaverygoodchanceofrecovering.5.EncouragetheChildToSocializeUsually,anyonewhoisdepressedpreferstositaloneanddonotliketomeetguestsorminglewithfriends.Ontheotherhand,ifyouencourageyourchildtomeetpeopleandsocialize,itwillworkasasupportsystemwhichisessentialforpeoplewithdepression.6.AlternativeHealingTechniquesAlternativehealingtechniqueslikeyogaandmeditationcanhelpalottoovercomedepression.Practicingsuchtechniquesathomehelpstobuildpositiveenvironmentathomeandhelpchildtodealwithdepressioneasily.Inadditiontoabovetips,ifyourchildissufferingfromclinicaldepression,youshouldencouragehimorhertoentertherapyandmakesureshetakesmedicinesproperlyandontime.Itwillhelpbreakyourchild’snegativeandself-pitythoughtpatternwhichisgeneratedduetodepression.Aboveall,youhavetobepatient.Donotexpectanychangeovernight.Keeptryingandstaywithyourchildasmuchasyoucantohelphimorhercopewiththesituation.Whatarethecausesofdepressioninchildren?Howtohelpadepressedchild?Whatcanhappentoachildifdepressionisnottreatedontime?Discusshere.
Depression can seriously affect the growth and development of children. It can not only affect the academic life of a child but also his or her emotional well being. Therefore, it is essential to diagnose and treat depression before it is too late. Have a quick look at some symptoms of depression and tips for helping a depressed child.Depression in children is not rare these days. There are many things a child goes through and face lot of anxiety and stress even in school life. But parents can play an important role in helping children overcome such situations.
Along with anxiety and stress children handle, there are many things that affect child’s capacity to cope with unfavourable circumstances. Every parent wants to give children whatever they want. However, having very high expectations from children, physical and mental abuse, fights and separation of parents, not fulfilling their basic needs may lead to
depression in them. Let us take a look at the common symptoms of depression in children and tips for helping a depressed child.
Symptoms of Childhood Depression
Here are some common symptoms of depression in children.
- Your child is sad or irritable for most part of the day
- Not enjoying things that he or she used to like
- Has hampered or very little sleep in the night
- Feels lack of energy and is unable to do simple tasks
- Change in eating habit – low or increased appetite
- Sudden increase or decrease in body weight
- Low self-esteem
- Not wanting to spend time with family and friends
- Prefers to sit alone often
- Aches and pains without any reason
- Finding it difficult to concentrate or make choice
- Frequent feelings of death or suicide
Although some of these signs may occur in a child one day or another, but if the symptoms appear together and nearly every day, they are signs of depression.
How to Help a Depressed Child?
Here is how you can help a depressed child.
1. Talk to the Child
The best thing is to know what the reason why child is feeling so depressed. But remember, this is not very easy especially if you have not been spending time with the child lately. You might have to help the child by giving hint whether anything is disturbing him or her at home or in school or somewhere else.
2. Spend Time With the Child
Try to spend as much time as possible with the child so that he or she feels safe, secure and loved. If a child is depressed, talking is the last thing she would do. You will have to choose some activity that you two can do together so that she starts talking.
3. Educate Yourself
With advent of internet gathering information on anything is not hard. Find out everything you can to know what kind and level of depression the child is going through. Do not waste lot of time, but try on your own to help him or her recover.
4. Take Professional Help If Needed
There is no need to freak out if you are not able to help a child get normal. Take proper help so that medication and therapy can help the child. Just keep in mind that as long as your child is under a good doctor and has supportive parents, he or she has a very good chance of recovering.
5. Encourage the Child To Socialize
Usually, anyone who is depressed prefers to sit alone and do not like to meet guests or mingle with friends. On the other hand, if you encourage your child to meet people and socialize, it will work as a support system which is essential for people with depression.
6. Alternative Healing Techniques
Alternative healing techniques like
yoga and
meditation can help a lot to overcome depression. Practicing such techniques at home helps to build positive environment at home and help child to deal with depression easily.
In addition to above tips, if your child is suffering from clinical depression, you should encourage him or her to enter therapy and make sure she takes medicines properly and on time. It will help break your child’s negative and self-pity thought pattern which is generated due to depression. Above all, you have to be patient. Do not expect any change overnight. Keep trying and stay with your child as much as you can to help him or her cope with the situation.
What are the causes of depression in children? How to help a depressed child? What can happen to a child if depression is not treated on time? Discuss here.
