Signs of Depression in Children: Finding Help from a Christian Counselor in Huntington Beach
Just like adults, children experience emotional ups and downs and are affected by daily stresses. Some children are naturally more sensitive or emotional than others and may freely express their emotions. Others might suppress their feelings for various reasons, though the parents might still notice a change in behavior.
It is not uncommon for children to become depressed. There has been a slight increase in child depression in the last decade. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention cites that 3.2% of children aged 3-17 have current cases of depression.
It can be alarming to parents and caregivers to know that their child is depressed, and many may not know how to help their child. Others might not even be aware that their child is depressed, thinking that children cannot experience depression. If a child’s mood is rapidly changing, if they have become quiet or withdrawn, or if their performance at school is declining, these may be signs that a child is depressed.
Why Children Get Depressed
Depression in children is influenced by many things, from life events to their environment at school and in their family. In some cases, it is a biochemical illness or genetic predisposition. In every case of child depression, it is a good idea to consult a counselor, therapist, or medical professional to determine the cause and treatment.
A child’s school environment is frequently the source of depression. From the ages 5-6, children spend the majority of their time at school with teachers and peers. Here they may be exposed to experiences like bullying and social rejection which can easily result in the child becoming depressed.
Many children as young as five experience fear and anxiety as far as school is concerned. Whether it is separation anxiety, social anxiety, or a specific phobia, anxiety, and depression are often linked.
Similarly, childhood depression is commonly influenced by things that happen at home. During their developmental years, a child is sensitive to many events that might seem insignificant to adults. For example, moving house is a common life event for an adult, but it can be deeply impacting for a child. Leaving friends behind and having to begin school with new peers and teachers is enough to cause depression in children.
There are more obvious natural causes of depression in children, such as abuse, neglect, and divorce. Children are often deeply perceptive, and even if they cannot articulate it, they can sense when their parents or caregivers are struggling. Children of depressed parents will often experience depression themselves. Children need caregivers to be emotional anchors, providing stability and assurance. There are times when it can be challenging to provide this.
Biochemical Disorders
A child experiencing depression may have a mood disorder. This means that the depression the child is experiencing is not necessarily linked to any events in their external environment. Instead, it is being generated inside of them, by their brain or nervous system. This type of depression can only be diagnosed by a medical professional after careful evaluation.
There most common depressive disorders to affect children are major depressive disorder (MDD), persistent depressive disorder (PDD), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), bipolar disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), and adjustment disorder with depressed mood.
Severe depression that lasts more than two weeks might be major depressive disorder. Persistent depressive disorder, also called dysthymia, is a milder form of depression, but one in which the symptoms last for a year or more. Seasonal affective disorder occurs mostly in the northern hemisphere where the daylight hours are shorter in the colder seasons. Depression is a result of a lack of chemicals obtained from sunlight, such as vitamin D.
Bipolar occurs in children, however, it is not common. The indicator of bipolar is extreme mood swings, always followed by bouts of low energy and depression. Mood swings and surges of energy and exhaustion are common for all children, but what sets bipolar behavior apart is that the mood swings are intense and last for weeks with debilitating effects.
Healthy children may occasionally experience bursts of extreme emotion, from euphoric joy to fits of anger and tantrums. But when the anger is severe, with frequent outbursts, aggression, irritability, and no joyful or positive emotions, it might be disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. Only children over the age of six experience DDMD and it is extreme but treatable.
Lastly, adjustment disorder with depressive mood is not biochemical but is commonly treated with medication. A child with this disorder might be depressed for three months or more, and it is often in response to a major event, like a death in the family or parental separation. There is a period of adjustment to each of these events, but if a child’s daily functions are impaired by grief, this may indicate the presence of this type of depression.
Symptoms of Depression in Children
Depression affects children across a broad age spectrum, and each stage of development brings with it characteristic behavior. For example, it is common for young children to have tantrums, to sometimes be shy and withdrawn, and to have occasional angry outbursts. But these can also be symptoms of depression in children. The difference between natural developmental behavior and depression is the intensity of the behavior, and the effects it has.
If there is a sudden and noticeable change in behavior, such as an outgoing and confident child becoming shy and silent, this is cause for concern. If they stop doing things that previously brought them joy, become overly sensitive to criticism, have lower energy, and increased irritability, this might be further evidence of depression.
Children below the age of nine do not naturally possess filters to mask behavior. They also do not have the eloquence to describe their emotions. This means that younger children cannot easily tell you what they are feeling, but they will show how they feel without being prompted. Frequent tantrums, angry gestures, or low energy and impeded abilities to do simple tasks (like brushing teeth or tying shoelaces) are things to watch out for.
Older children and pre-teens tend to become withdrawn and silent when battling depression. Depression often presents alongside trauma, such as a fear of abandonment. The child might be reluctant to talk about how they feel because they perceive that it is wrong for them to feel this way, though they wouldn’t be able to explain why. This leads them to become insular as a form of soothing and self-protection. This is often observed where there has been bullying or abuse.
Besides this, common symptoms of depression in children and pre-teens are changes in sleep patterns, loss of appetite, failure to concentrate, frequent tearfulness, absences from school or a decline in grades, and attempts to run away from home.
Because they often cannot articulate their experiences, parents and caregivers need to take note of their behavior and, if possible, talk to the child about it. The parent might also share their concerns with a healthcare professional.
Teen depression is often linked to an increased interest in topics surrounding death, suicide, or self-harm. Risky behavior, sexual promiscuity, and substance use or abuse are also common. Low self-esteem, self-loathing, and aggression can also be indicators of depression. Teens may want to feel something besides the weight of depression or to shut down their feelings altogether.
Should you notice any prolonged behavior, things that are out of character, or behavior patterns that prove detrimental to your child’s health, you should reach out to a professional immediately. Whether you begin with medical advice, or counseling and therapy, there are options for treatment. No family has to be crippled by the effects of depression, regardless of its type or the cause of it.
Next Steps
Every case and type of depression is treatable. It may take some time to determine the type and cause of the depression, and then determine the most effective treatment plan. A good treatment plan might combine both medication and counseling. As far as medication is concerned, a qualified health professional should diagnose and prescribe the treatment. It should be monitored over some time, and amended if necessary.
The counseling might be pediatric counseling, where a professional meets with the child in private, and conducts a child-focused method of counseling. Or it might involve a combination of one-on-one meetings with the child and sessions with the parent or primary caregiver.
Many parents and caregivers themselves are battling depression and ailing mental health. It is common to feel guilty, helpless, and even angry at yourself as a parent because of your child’s depression. We encourage parents to seek counseling for themselves, as a way of helping themselves and their family.
We can connect you to some highly qualified professional counselors who will work with you to provide the support, and treatment you need. The first step is to call our offices to book an appointment with a counselor, after which you will be on your way to mental wellness.
“Blue Paint”, Courtesy of Phil Hearing, Unsplash.com, CC0 License
Consider counseling
Men who are depressed may not realize that is the problem, and often, depression itself is a symptom of a much larger issue or unresolved conflict. This can present itself as anger, irritability, or mood swings. Do you find yourself irritable over minor offenses? Are your loved one’s pet peeves bothering you more than usual?
You may have felt happy, joyful, and serene right after the birth of your baby, but after the first week of no sleep, constant diaper changes, learning how to care for a newborn, and shifts in hormones, you feel the opposite.
If you are preparing for your baby’s birth and are reading this to know what to expect, take the time to recruit help now. From anything to setting up a meal train, to driving siblings to their appointments, to walking the dog and cleaning your house.
You can also find Mothers groups that consist of women who have children from birth through age five. These groups offer invaluable insight and activities for children while the mothers provide advice and ask questions. They may also host events or Mother’s Day Out opportunities.
Depression is a mood disorder and a diagnosable mental health disorder; it is not simply what you feel when you’re going through a tough time. If a person feels sad after the loss of a loved one or another personal tragedy, that is to be expected and is a natural way for a person to deal with those events. If you’re struggling with depression, 
Depression often presents as feelings of deep sadness or apathy. However, a depressive episode doesn’t look the same for everyone who experiences it. For men, for example, the symptoms of a depressive episode, such as feelings of unworthiness and helplessness can translate into an increase in anger and irritability. Essentially, the sadness ignites the anger in some. That anger may be directed at events from your past, at yourself, or it may not have an object at all.
To begin with, if you suspect you may be struggling with symptoms of depression, you should first get screened by a medical or mental health professional who can provide an assessment of your life history and the severity of your symptoms.
Finding the light when you’re feeling depressed and angry.
Typically, our moods are well-regulated because our hormones, sleep patterns, and general rhythms are functioning well. When they are not functioning well, however, mood swings and erratic behavior can result.
Being alert to the symptoms of depression can save a life, whether your own or that of a loved one. When a person is feeling depressed, they don’t think, act, or feel like they would under normal circumstances. When you feel sad, that can color everything you experience, and depression is more intense than sadness.
Drastic weight changes. Connected with changes in eating habits, one may lose a lot of weight, or find themselves gaining a lot of weight.
Should you get diagnosed with depression it’s quite likely that you’ll have a combination of regular counseling and medication. Your doctor will put together a treatment plan that fits your circumstances, and part of that plan may also include having your family as part of your support structure.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Most people label this disorder as “depression.” However, MDD is more than a depressed mood and can often be made up of multiple episodes of depression. For the sake of this article, we will refer to depressive episodes as depression.
Poor concentration
What Depression Feels Like in Women
Treating Depression
Allowing ourselves to feel sad may feel like we’re betraying our faith or are being “bad Christians.” Moreover, we may feel like we’re letting the people around us down. Many of us simply struggle to sit with despair, and we do not have the language to articulate our sadness and lament. 
Here, the psalmist cries out to God in the middle of despair because of hardship that he is experiencing, possibly because of his own disobedience. His enemies seize upon this to mock him and vent their animosity.
There is an entire book of the Bible about sadness and lament in the wake of devastating events. After the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC by an invading army, the city lies deserted, feels haunted and is full of groaning from those left behind as they search for bread.
We’ve all heard of depression, but how much do we really understand about it? It’s often misunderstood in terms of its clinical diagnosis and greatly overused in pop culture. 
If you’re noticing that you’re very short-tempered or yelling at your spouse or kids a lot, or otherwise lashing out. Instead of working through your feelings, and identifying their root cause you may project them onto others, blaming those around you for the feelings you have about yourself.
Another common symptom associated with clinal depression is being extremely restless at night and constantly tired during the day when awake, with little to no motivation to get out of bed to start daily activities. Going to work, or getting the kids on the bus in the morning becomes overwhelming. Even trips to the grocery store may begin to seem like they are simply too much to handle.
It is common for people who are experiencing depression to experience a decreased or complete loss of interest in life. Things that once provided a sense of accomplishment or fulfillment no longer provide any satisfaction. Spending time with friends or family becomes more of a chore as isolation and solitude increase.
Even the normal things you did are not the same. The insatiable appetite you once had has dwindled to barely being hungry at all.
Girls are generally the first to undergo visible physical changes. The earlier they do so, the more difficult the adjustments may be. They take note that they are “different” which can make the changes even rougher. Soon enough, boys find themselves in the midst of puberty, too, and begin comparing themselves and their changes to that of their peers. Late bloomers may have the hardest time of all whether male or female.
Not only can social media platforms open up a sea of opportunities to stage bully battlegrounds, they can also promote the temptation to compare. There’s the popular girl who just got asked to prom, the football jock posing in a photo with his new trophy and your friend showing off the new puppy she’d rather spend time with than you. It’s up close, personal and always in your face.
Within the state of Washington, even thirteen-year-olds have the right to complete privacy in their counseling sessions. While it may seem a bit strange to parents, it certainly is comforting to the teenagers.