Depression affects five percent of the child/adolescent population. Sadness and irritability are considered adaptive and normal in response to stress, disappointment, changes from loss or separation. Children who have problems with attention, learning, conduct or anxiety may also show signs of depression. Your child may be depressed if changes in their behavior or mood lasts more than a few weeks or interferes with daily activities. The following are symptoms of depression in children and adolescents:
- Irritability
- Increase in conduct problems at home or school
- Boredom
- Increase in physical complaints (headaches, muscle-aches, stomach-aches, tiredness)
- Decrease in energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Frequent absences from school
- Decline in grades
- Isolation
- Unexplained crying
- Low self-esteem or extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure
- Poor communication
- Major changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns
- Threats or efforts to run away from home
- Thoughts of suicide or engagement in self-destructive behavior
In addition to the above, adolescents may exhibit:
- Drop in school attendance
- Problems with alcohol, drugs or sex
- Impulsive behavior
|