| DEPRESSION in Teenagers and ChildrenA while | | | | reading, who used to sit and listen, now gets |
| ago I did a blog about Adult depression. | | | | up and wanders around.10) Becomes disruptive |
| While doing the research on Adult depression, | | | | in class (both teens and children).11) Finds |
| I learned quite a bit of information about | | | | it harder to stay on task. Loses |
| depression in general, in addition to what I | | | | concentration easily; is |
| already knew because I suffer from this | | | | |
| condition myself. What I didn't know, | | | | mentally confused. Finds decisions difficult |
| however, is just how prevelant this condition | | | | to make. In a child this might look like the |
| is in the population at large, and in | | | | following: unable to match blocks by color |
| children and teens in specific. One source | | | | when s/he could before; unable to choose |
| said that depression is close to the top | | | | between playing ball and jumping rope when |
| psychological condition in the western world | | | | the child ALWAYS choose playing ball before. |
| (more about what this means in a later blog; | | | | You can think of your own examples, I'm |
| it'll take a whold blog to talk about what | | | | sure.12) Cannot remember commitments - |
| this means).This article will cover the | | | | doesn't keep appointments (teen). As a child, |
| following: teenager and children depression | | | | forgets to bring papers home when s/he ALWAYS |
| statistics; teenager and children - specific | | | | used to do so; forgets home address/telephone |
| depression symptoms (for "general" symptoms, | | | | number when s/he has known them for months |
| check out the Adult blog), and, what you, as | | | | years; etc.13) Has difficulty staying still |
| the parent and/or gaurdian, can do if you | | | | or conversely, is lethargic (sluggish). This |
| recognize the symptoms in one of yours. | | | | would apply to both a teen and a child. You |
| (Remember, the following information comes | | | | can picture, in your mind, the teen or child |
| from many Internet sources.)TEENAGER AND | | | | in constant motion; twitching, shaking a |
| CHILDREN DEPRESSION STATISTICSAs many as 8.3% | | | | foot, or both feet; handling things; etc. OR, |
| of teenagers in the U.S. suffer from | | | | the teen or child who sits or lays with that |
| depression. | | | | thousand yard stare again. AND, again, this |
| | | | is unusual behavior for your teen or |
| Suicide is the third leading cause of death | | | | child.14) Changes in relationships with |
| in teenagers.As many as one in every 33 | | | | family and friends. Usually, this change |
| children and approximately one in 8 | | | | manifests itself in hostility, or in |
| adolescents may have depression. (Center for | | | | passivity. Arguing when s/he didn't before; |
| Mental Health Services, 1996; these data have | | | | or, using the "whatever" answer, when s/he |
| increased over the past 9 years).Treatment of | | | | used to talk to you. (Again, don't single |
| major depression is as effective for children | | | | this one symptom out; it must be one of many |
| as it is for adults. (Dr. Graham Emslie, | | | | symptoms that your teen or child has.)15) |
| American Medical Association, Archives of | | | | Stops going out with friends; shows no |
| General Psychiatry, November 15, 1997).Twenty | | | | interest in group outings.16) Increase or |
| years ago depression in children was almost | | | | decrease in sexual activity (hopefully, an |
| unknown. Now the fastest rate of increase in | | | | OLDER TEEN).17) May start associating with a |
| depression is among young people. (I don't | | | | different peer group (that "bad influence" |
| know about you, but this statistic scares me | | | | group as a teen; the "rowdy" kids as a |
| the most!)The statistics on teen depression | | | | child).18) Loses interest in activities which |
| are sobering. Studies indicate that one in | | | | once were fun.19) More conflicts with parents |
| five (1 in 5) children have some sort of | | | | and siblings than usual.20) Changes in eating |
| mental, behavioral, or emotional problem, and | | | | and sleeping habits.21) Expresses |
| that one in ten (1 in 10) may have a serious | | | | inappropriate guilt, feelings of not being |
| emotional problem.What is even more chilling | | | | good enough, worthlessness, failure. (I can |
| is that of all these children and teens | | | | see this in a teen; not sure how this would |
| struggling with emotional and behavioral | | | | look in a child. If you can, please let us |
| problems, a mere 30% receive any sort of | | | | know.)22) Expresses hopelessness and having |
| intervention or treatment. The other 70% | | | | nothing to look forward to.23) Speaks in a |
| simply struggle through the pain of mental | | | | monotonous or monosyllabic manner.24) Has a |
| illness or emotional turmoil, doing their | | | | preoccupation with self; is withdrawn.25) |
| best to make it to adulthood. Many theorize | | | | Cries easily, looks sad, feels alone or |
| that this is why the suicide rate in teens is | | | | isolated.26) Has fears about having to be |
| so high. Suicide is the third (3rd) leading | | | | perfect.27) Fearful of doing something bad. |
| cause of death among young people ages 15 to | | | | This, in a child, could manifest itself as |
| 24. Even more troubling, it is the sixth | | | | bedwetting after YEARS of not bedwetting; |
| (6th) leading cause of death among children | | | | fear of darkness or "things that go bump in |
| ages 5-14.The consequences of untreated | | | | the night" after YEARS of no fear, etc.28) |
| depression can be:increased incidence of | | | | Incidents of self-injury. Ideas of killing |
| depression in adulthood; | | | | self. (I have no idea of how this would look |
| | | | for a child, and hope never to have such an |
| involvement in the criminal justice system; | | | | idea!)WHAT A PARENT/GUARDIAN CAN DOThe two |
| | | | most important things a parent can do for |
| or in some cases, suicide.WHAT ARE THE TEEN | | | | your child/teen is to first, KNOW YOUR TEEN |
| CHILDREN DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS?As we see above, | | | | CHILD'S ROUTINE, AND NORMAL DAILY ACTIVITIES |
| treatment (i.e., counseling, therapy, or even | | | | so that you can identify any changes; and, |
| medical intervention, if needed) for | | | | LISTEN:1) listen when your children talk;2) |
| depression is as effective for teens/children | | | | listen to their music;3) spend more time with |
| as it is for Adults. Let me state that again; | | | | them and be involved in their activities;4) |
| research from a variety of sources indicates | | | | take them to movies and concerts, and discuss |
| that appropriate treatment for depression in | | | | them afterward;5) know their friends, and |
| a teen and/or a child is as effective as it | | | | listen to them, as well;6) do not lecture or |
| is for Adults. So, what, as a parent or | | | | offer unsolicited advice, or ultimatums; |
| gurdian, should we look for? What are the | | | | and,7) do not try to talk them out of their |
| symptoms of real depression, and not just a | | | | feelings; instead, ask them if they can |
| "bad mood"?"Real Depression" - the type that | | | | describe their feelings.It goes without |
| needs immediate and appropriate attention - | | | | saying, but I'll say it anyway, learn the |
| in teenagers and in children is defined as: | | | | above symptoms and know your teen/child. Here |
| when the feelings of depression persist and | | | | are some more things that you, the parent or |
| interfere with the teen's/child's ability to | | | | guardian can do.8) If a child, go to their |
| function in his/her normal daily activities. | | | | day care periodically, and lern their |
| This doesn't mean that one should ignore a | | | | routine; ask the teachers to alert you if |
| teen's/child's bad mood if it lasts for a few | | | | their routine changes.9) If a teen, go to ALL |
| days or a few weeks. What it does mean is | | | | of your teen's teacher conferences to learn |
| that, at a minimum, you, the parent/guardian | | | | the patterns of the normal school day, and |
| must know enough about your teen's/child's | | | | ask to be alerted immediately to changes.10) |
| normal daily activities so that you can know | | | | For both teens and children, know their |
| when there are changes. OK, what covers | | | | friends; see if your home can become the |
| "normal daily activities" for a teen/child? | | | | "gathering place"; get to know the parents of |
| (And, in this, we are sticking to American | | | | your child's or teen's friends and agree to |
| generic teens/children, because that's what I | | | | let each other know if you see any changes in |
| am most famaliar with. If anyone can add to | | | | behavior.11) In all cases, keep a diary of |
| this list, please do so.)As you read through | | | | any changes that you see, so that you will be |
| this list, remember that your teen/child has | | | | able to discuss the situation with great |
| to have "a siginficant" number of these | | | | clarity and specificity with professionals, |
| symptoms; they have to be ongoing, out of | | | | should the need arise.12) Respond with love, |
| character; and impair the teen's/child's | | | | kindness, and support if you think that your |
| normal daily activities (sound familiar?)1) | | | | child/teen is experiencing problems that can |
| Snapping at people for no apparent reason - | | | | lead to depression.13) Let your child or teen |
| being irritable at everyone.2) Physically or | | | | know that you are there, whenever she or he |
| verbally aggressive at everyone.3) Abandoning | | | | needs you, and do so often and in |
| favorite hobbies or sports or other routine, | | | | age-specific (as Dr. Phil would say) ways.14) |
| daily activities.4) Increased passive TV | | | | Keep trying, but gently, if your teen shuts |
| watching (where the teen/child has that | | | | you out (depressed teenagers do not want to |
| "thousand yard stare" and is not interacting | | | | feel patronized or crowded).15) Do not |
| with the programs).5) Increased risk-taking; | | | | criticize or pass judgment, once the child or |
| e.g., dangerous driving; climbing too high in | | | | teen begins to talk (the important thing is |
| a tree and jumping, breaking something; other | | | | that he or she is talking and communicating |
| repeated unusually dangerous activities.6) | | | | feelings). REMEMBER, NEVER CRITICIZE |
| Misuse of drugs and alcohol. Particularly | | | | FEELINGS; everyone has the right to their |
| teens, who use drugs and alcohol to "escape". | | | | feelings, even if you think that they are |
| (1)7) Changes in school behaviors (including | | | | "wrong". Let them be voiced; if |
| training courses and work settings) for | | | | inapproptiate, seek professional |
| teens; changes in interpersonal behaviors and | | | | assistance.16) Encourage activity and praise |
| activities in a pre-school setting (i.e., | | | | efforts.17) Seek help from a doctor or mental |
| used to like to color and play with clay; now | | | | health professional, if the teen's or child's |
| just sits in a corner, holding a stuffed toy | | | | depressed feeling doesn't pass with time (be |
| and sucking a thumb).8) Frequent absences | | | | prepared to list behaviors, note how long and |
| from school; poorer grades than formerly | | | | how often they have been occurring, and how |
| attained; increase in skipping classes; etc. | | | | severe they seem - hence, the diary mentioned |
| For a child, reversion in activities (i.e., | | | | above).18) Do not wait and hope that symptoms |
| used to color within the lines, now just | | | | will go away on their own. Better to seek |
| scribbling on paper; intentionally breaking | | | | assistance and be told that your teen/child |
| things, etc.)9) Complains of being bored | | | | is fine than to let your teen/child become |
| (teen); a child whose attention waivers when | | | | one of the 70% who never receive help. |
| it didn't before. A child who, during a group | | | | |