In children and teens, depression doesn ’t always look like sadness

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire When we think of a depressed person, we tend to think of someone who, well, acts sad. The picture we have in our head is of someone who doesn’t want to get off the couch or out of bed, who is eating much less or much more than usual, has trouble sleeping or wants to sleep all the time, who has trouble with usual daily activities, and doesn’t talk much. Children and teens with depression can certainly look like that. But depression can play out in different ways, too. Numbers are hard to come by in younger children, but among 12-to-17-year-olds, almost 13% have had a major depressive episode. It’s important to be aware of the signs; depression is a treatable illness — and untreated depression can lead to long-term mental health and physical problems, and possibly even suicide. Here are some possible signs of depression in youth: Dropping grades. Now, there are lots of reasons why grades can drop — including learning disabilities, ADHD, bullying, or substance use. But whenever a child’s grades are dropping, it’s important to think about depression as a possible cause. Irritability and anger. There are many reasons for this, including temperament, and teens are often irritable and angry. But if it’s new and persistent, or if a child or teen is getting in trouble much more than usual, think about depression. When a child who used to be interested in things is suddenly bored all the time, it can be a warning sign. Dropping out of act...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Depression Children's Health Mental Health Parenting Source Type: blogs