Depression in Children: When Should You Begin to Worry?

Parents typically want the same things for their children. They want to make sure that they’re healthy, safe, and happy.

When a child is hungry, a parent is there to feed them. When they’re tired, they’re rocking them until they fall asleep. If a child falls down and gets hurt, their parents are there to pick them back up.

But a hard reality of being a parent is that you can’t possibly help them through everything. You may wish that you could take their pain away from them so that they didn’t have to feel it, but that’s not how the world works. There will be times that your child struggles, and you won’t be able to just hold them or put a bandaid on it to make it all better again.

Even children can struggle with mental health problems. You may not be able to solve something like depression, but you can take steps to recognize the signs and know when it’s time to worry.

Mood Fluctuations

If you find yourself questioning what happened to your sweet, carefree, happy child, there may be a larger issue at hand. While changes in mood can be common at a young age, a persistent sad or even bad mood can be a sign of depression in children. Your child who may have been happy frequently will appear to be unhappy, sad, or in a bad mood more often than not. They may even be having more temper tantrums or cry more often than normal.

Aches and Pains

Some signs and symptoms of depression include experiencing aches and pains or digestive issues within the body. Your child may complain of not feeling well or even want to miss school despite not really being sick due to these aches and pains.

Changes in Eating and Sleeping Habits

Depression can cause changes in one’s eating habits. Either your child will not feel hungry and want to skip meals or they’ll try to fill the empty feeling they have inside with food. Changes in eating habits and in weight can be a sign of depression.

Eating habits aren’t the only area of a child’s life that can be impacted. Changes in sleeping habits can also be affected. A child with depression may either sleep too much due to a lack of energy or not be able to fall asleep at night.

Hard on Oneself

Another telltale sign of depression in children is being extremely hard on themselves. Previously, your child may have been excited and even determined to try to tackle new things. Your child may not be as willing to try new things or will appear to be more hesitant than normal.

If this is the case, they may be experiencing self-criticism. You may even find themselves constantly complaining about not being able to do things right, certain activities being too hard, or not having any friends.

Lack of Energy

Energy levels can significantly drop when a child is struggling with depression. The lack of energy can negatively impact multiple areas of a child’s life. Their school, extracurricular activities, or even their home life can be affected. They may struggle in school, not put in as much effort with their chores, or want to withdraw from activities they used to enjoy.

Next Steps

If your child is struggling with depression, it’s important to know that there isn’t one single factor that causes depression. Recognizing the signs and letting your child know that you’re there for them is a great first step in getting them the help you both need and deserve.

Working with a mental health professional can help your child get to the root cause of their depression. Simultaneously, they’ll be able to work through the various signs and symptoms your child is struggling with. Reach out today to learn more about depression in children and if child counseling is the right fit.