Signs that may indicate depression during childhood include a lack of desire to play, nocturnal enuresis, frequent complaints of fatigue, headaches or stomach pains, and learning difficulties.
These symptoms may go unnoticed or confused with tantrums or shyness, however if these symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks, it is advisable to go to the pediatrician to make a psychological health assessment and check the need to start treatment.
- In most cases.
- Treatment includes psychotherapy sessions and the use of antidepressant medications.
- But support from parents and teachers is critical to helping the child get out of depression.
- As this disorder can hinder a child’s development.
Symptoms of childhood depression vary with a child’s age and diagnosis is never easy, requiring detailed evaluation by a pediatrician. However, some signs that may alert parents include:
Although these signs of depression are common in children, they may be more age-specific.
The main symptoms of early childhood depression, which occurs until age 2, are refusal to eat, low weight, short stature, and delayed language and sleep.
In preschool, which occurs between the ages of 2 and 6, children in most cases have constant tantrums, a lot of fatigue, little desire to play, lack of energy, urinate in bed and unintentionally eliminate faeces.
In addition, it can also be very difficult for them to separate from their mother or father, avoid talking or living with other children, and remain very isolated. There can also be intense cries and nightmares and a lot of difficulty falling asleep.
In school age, which occurs between the ages of 6 and 12, depression manifests itself in the same symptoms mentioned above, in addition to having learning difficulties, low concentration, red notes, isolation, exaggerated sensitivity and irritability, apathy, lack of patience, headaches and stomach and weight changes.
In addition, there is usually a feeling of inferiority, which is worse than that of other children and constantly says a phrase like “nobody loves me” or “I can’t do anything.”
In adolescence, the signs may be different, so if your child is older than 12, learn about the symptoms of teen depression.
Diagnosis is usually made by medical tests and drawing analysis, as in most cases the child cannot report that he is sad and depressed and therefore parents should be very attentive to all symptoms and inform the doctor. to make it easier to diagnose.
However, diagnosing this disease is not easy, especially since it can be confused with personality changes such as shyness, irritability, moodiness or aggression and, in some cases, parents may even consider normal behaviors for their age.
Thus, if a significant change in the child’s behavior is identified, such as constant crying, getting very irritable, or losing weight for no apparent reason, the pediatrician should be called to assess the possibility of experiencing a psychological change.
To cure childhood depression it is necessary to be accompanied by a pediatrician, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, family members and teachers and treatment should last at least 6 months to avoid relapses.
Treatment is usually only done until age 9 with psychotherapy sessions with a child psychologist. However, after this age or when the disease cannot be cured only with psychotherapy, it is necessary to take antidepressants, such as fluoxetine, sertraline or paroxetine, for example. In addition, your doctor may recommend other remedies such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics or stimulants.
The use of antidepressants usually does not begin to take effect until after 20 days of taking them and even if the child no longer has symptoms, he should continue using the medication to avoid chronic depression.
To help with recovery, parents and teachers should collaborate on treatment, encouraging the child to play with other children, play sports, participate in outdoor activities, and constantly congratulate the child.
Living with a depressed child is not easy, but parents, family, and teachers should help the child overcome the disease so that he or she feels supported and not alone. Therefore, it is necessary to:
These strategies will help the child gain confidence, avoiding isolation and improving self-esteem, helping the child heal depression.
In most cases, childhood depression occurs due to traumatic situations such as constant disputes between family members, divorce from parents, change of school, lack of contact between the child and the parents, or death.
In addition, abuse, such as rape or daily life with alcoholic or drug addict parents, can also contribute to depression.