Early Signs of Depression in Kids
It may sound a little but childhood
depression is a bitter reality of our society. Children are supposed to be
carefree & immersed in their limited world. However, the reality is far
from this scenario. Despite being away from responsibilities & complexities
of the world many kids suffer from depression which many times goes unnoticed
by their parents/guardians. As parents, it is our duty to ensure wholesome
health of the child including physical, emotional & intellectual.
How do we know if the child is
depressed?
Depression is a serious state which needs an
empathetic approach by the parents. However, we always cannot take in to
account the usual sadness as depression. As & when this state of being sad
becomes persistent parents should consider intervention.
Also, in some cases, depression comes
in a masked manner. Here the child is acting angry or overly fabricated in his
behaviour. However, fundamentally sadness, hopelessness & frequent change
in mood can be considered as symptoms of depression.
Significant Signs of Having Symptoms of
Depression
·
Irritability
·
Anger
·
Sadness & Hopelessness
·
Social Withdrawn
·
Hyper Sensitive Towards Rejection
·
Sudden & Drastic Fluctuations in Appetite
·
Sudden & Drastic change in sleep pattern
·
Behavioural outburst or crying
·
Stomach or head pain incurable by treatment
·
A downward shift in performance at school &
extra-curricular
·
Lack of concentration
·
Suicidal thoughts
Under normal circumstances, a child will show
all or most of these signs. However, some of them will keep appearing at a
different point in time. Children with the significant extent of depression will
show severe loss of interest in school, social surrounding & in
extra-curricular activities. One most important thing is they may fall for
substance abuse & start using alcohol or drugs as a help to come out/
sustain in this condition.
Causes of Depression
Depression silently will penetrate in your
child’s life sometimes without a visible reason. However, a child who has been
through these events become more vulnerable against this wretched condition.
·
Weak physical health
·
Drastic & Sad life events
·
Family History
·
Unstable family environment
·
Genetic Vulnerability
·
Biochemical Disturbance
One thing we all should understand that
Depression is not just passing mood swing but a serious condition which needs to
be handled using expert’s help. Under no circumstances let it be a silent
destroyer of the future of your child.
Depression is still a great mystery where experts don't have a definite answer
for prevention. Still, we all can give an honest try to not letting our kids
slip in this condition. Be attentive if your child is drawn toward any kind of
addiction. Also, create happily or at least balanced the environment in the
house where your children feel safe & comfortable. In case of any family
history of depression, take precautionary measures & keep a close watch on
the behaviour of your child. We cannot fight all the battles on behalf of our
kids but surely we can be their militia to win the battle.