While the general consensus regarding depression is that it occurs only in adults, according to recent statistics, about a million children are being diagnosed with depression every year. These children are pre-pubescent. This shows that depression in young children is more prevalent than we thought. Children are a lot more fragile mentally so it is important to identify their mental state and seek treatment immediately. Having a difficult childhood can affect their personality as they grow up so it should be looked at and addressed immediately.
What Causes Depression in Children?
Depression in children can be caused due to numerous reasons. For children, trauma can be caused by less severe and more trivial aspects. Simply moving to a different city where they leave their friends behind may trigger the symptoms of the disorder for instance.
Depression in children can also be caused by serious issues such as incessant bullying in school as well as dealing with parents who have poor parenting skills or if they happen to be going through a divorce which is common in our society.
Symptoms of Childhood Depression
The disorder is similar as far as symptoms go but children tend to express themselves differently so it can be hard to spot. Parents should be vigilant and notice any signs. Some common symptoms include constant nagging or tantrums. Parents may react to this by being stern and mistaken for being stubborn but if it happens too often it may be a reason to be concerned. Losing interest in games and sports that they usually play is also a serious symptom. Being less talkative than usual can also indicate that your child is troubled. There are other symptoms but these are the most common and apparent.
Depression in Children Treatment
Treating depression in children is important and it is a duty for every parent to look out for the child and consult a doctor for remedial action if necessary. First thing’s first. If you suspect a child of having the disorder, you should start off by learning more about the condition. As you are dealing with a child, it’s important to understand the condition. Another factor is to establish good rapport with your child. Constantly communicate with him or her and make sure you talk about their feelings. This alone can help alleviate the symptoms as depression in children is usually mild in manner relatively. Finally, the use of subliminal messages which is the practice of enforcing positive thinking using special messages and repeating them can be effective as children are more inclined to be obedient.