Is Your Child Depressed?

If you think depression is only a disease for adults, you are quite wrong...

One of the most common questions in child psychology is whether children are depressed. Children, even babies, get depressed.

Although triggering life events and depression symptoms for each age period are different, important factors in early childhood depression are associated with parents and care conditions. Depressive symptoms also vary depending on age and developmental processes.

Specialist clinical psychologist made the following statements.

‘Beware of slowing down in language, intelligence and social development’

Depression in infancy is often linked to a lack of adequate emotional support. Apart from meeting physiological needs, babies need to feel protected, loved and safe. Depression symptoms in this period are slowdowns and delays in the child's language, intelligence and social development. It is seen that developmental delays are accompanied by appetite, sleep problems, frequent and excessive crying and restlessness.

Speech and learning problems may occur

The first childhood stage, which covers the ages of 2-7, is the period when the child's sensitivity and awareness towards the outside world increases and he completes his basic development in many areas. Although the importance of the family continues in this period, social relations, self-disclosure among others, and displaying their developing skills are among the important tests of children of this age period.

In addition, at this age, the child begins to become more aware of the changes or problems in his world. Now he is also very sensitive to the relations of his mother or father with each other. Children of this period are still developing their ability to solve problems or express their feelings at an adult level.

For this reason, different symptoms are observed in childhood depressions than in adult depressions. Children may show unhappiness clearly, as well as behavioral disorders such as aggressive behavior, rejection of rules, harming themselves and others.

There may be deterioration in appetite and sleep, and children may lose the skills they have gained during this period. Behavior disorders such as bedwetting, thumb sucking, speech problems, learning problems, and separation from the family can also be observed in children.

Aggression may occur

Although depression seen after the age of 7 is similar to the first childhood period, the main problems of children in this period are social relations, academic field and adaptation to the regular school environment. Although children at this age have developed the ability to express their emotions better, conduct disorders can still be a precursor of depression. A child who has adjustment problems at school at this age may develop behaviors against the family at home in order not to be the subject of more ridicule among his friends. A child whose academic success is low may try to assert himself by acting aggressively towards his friends instead of expressing his distress.

Families should be observant

Recognizing that depression, which appears with different symptoms at every age, starting from infancy, is different from an unhappiness or a periodic distress; Awareness that long-term or intense triggering situations disrupt the chemical balance of the brain is important in terms of approaching depression. The emergence or treatment of depression is related to biological factors.

Although the biological factors underlying depression are similar, it is also seen that similar stress situations do not always cause depression in all children. Individual factors, genetic predisposition, modeling, family attitudes, family support and school support affect the emergence of depression or the treatment process of existing depression.

Other symptoms of depression in a child are

· Persistent Sadness

· Loss of interest

· Change in Sleeping Habits

· Low Self-Esteem

· Difficulty in Concentrate

· Physical Symptoms

When children have problems, explanations of mischief, spoilage, and periodic unhappiness delay the realization of the real problem. Covering up the problems in childhood, when developmental processes continue, causes permanent and bigger problems. It is important for families to be sensitive and observant towards their children, to realize the long-term and disruptive nature of behavioral problems and to receive expert support.

Early diagnosis saves lives

If you are concerned that your child may be experiencing symptoms of depression, it is essential to seek the advice of a qualified mental health professionals. They can provide an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment options to help your child to feel better. It should not be forgotten that depression is a "disease", and how "life-saving" early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are for any disease.