Child Depression: Child Depression Treatments – Dedicated Guide to Child Depression Treatments

Identifying child depression can sometimes be very confusing because some of the signs of child depression may also occur naturally in children at various stages in their lives. This is true of the moodiness and irritability seen in many teenagers. There are signs of possible depression that fall into four basic groups.

Some emotional signs of depression could include sadness. Your child may cry easily and be withdrawn. They may lose interest in activities they typically enjoy such as sports. They may also express complaints of boredom and they may become nervous or panicky, or even increasingly anxious.

Cognitive signs of depression have to do with thinking and thought patterns. They may be more negative, have little to no self-esteem and they may feel worthless or experience guilt (real or imagined). They may seem obsessed with things they do wrong or think they’ve done wrong. They may even seem more sensitive than usual when it comes to teasing from their classmates.

Physical complaints include changes in eating habits (too little/too much). Sleep pattern changes (too little/too much), falling asleep in school. They may tend to walk, talk, react slower than usual and be less playful.

Behavioral changes are evident by signs of avoiding or withdrawing from friends, family, and activities they like. A young child may become more demanding and very clingy. They may become fidgety and/or disruptive in school, exhibit unusual risky behavior. Some children and teens will resort to self-injuring themselves-causing themselves physical pain.

If you even remotely have considered that your child (or yourself) may suffer from depression, you need to get help. Talk about depression to your child and explain that depression is not his or her fault and that it means there is an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.

When getting treatment, the doctor should be able to relate to kids on their levels. They must also be able to build a connection with the child. If a doctor seems too clinical or stand offish, search elsewhere. If the doctor doesn’t understand the child’s needs, seek help elsewhere.

There are effective child depression treatments available. Psychotherapy in its variety of forms can be very effective for children with mild cases of depression; it may be all that they need. For those who need medicinal intervention, you and your child’s doctor will be able to decide on the best medication for your child’s special needs.

There are concerns with child depression treatments. The concerns regarding psychotherapy include finding the right person to treat your child. A connection between your child and the doctor you would like them to see should be made almost immediately. If the doctor/counselor should appear too clinical or stand offish, your child might be frightened. They must be someone that your child can feel safe with

Medication concerns range from all of the serious side effects to warnings that these drugs can cause your child to have suicidal ideation or even attempt suicide. Consider the pros and cons of medication for your child; do the benefits outweigh the risks? Regular contact with your child’s physician can help you to monitor your child’s needs.

Child depression treatments can be a little tricky because these medications were developed first for adults. Depression in children is tough sometime to diagnose because some behaviors are also normal for them at any one stage. Support your child; encourage them to talk about their feelings and their depression. They need to know they are not alone.

Depression and Children – According to research recently presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, between 1990 and 2001, the number of children and adolescents diagnosed with depression doubled and the use of antidepressants increased from 44% to 59%. Get more information at www.HealthyUpdates.com Get a FREE REMEDY Subscription www.healthisnow.com

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