Is your child depressed?

​The shortest answer to this question would be to ask your child, “Do you feel like you have more happy days than sad or more sad days than happy?”
The longer version begins by asking yourself that very same question. As adults, we need to be able to identify and articulate our own emotions in order to help our children. Think back to when you were young and how your family acknowledged or did not acknowledge emotional pain- anxiety, sadness, despair or grief.

The family culture in which we were raised plays a critical role in how we place value on our own emotional health and that of others. Whether you were brought up with little regard for feelings or were nurtured with emotional support impacts how we care for the mental health of our children.
Regardless of age, children can experience tremendous healing through being truly seen and heard. Practice ways of being a listening presence to hear their hurts and worries while resisting the urge to fix their feelings.
Signs of Depression/Anxiety:

• More quiet, sad, nervous, fearful, worried, angry, irritable
• Change in eating habits or weight
• Irregular sleep patterns
• Mood and behaviors- acting out, self-harming, poor concentration
• Plunging self-esteem
• Withdrawal- isolating, reluctance to socialize
• Physical pain- headaches, stomach aches, pain elsewhere, fatigue.

Helping your child:

• Meet with a physician to rule out any medical concerns.
• Build trust and respect by being a good listener and not a good fixer. A sounding board that is non-judgemental and authentic goes a very long way.
• The best conversations are done when not face-to-face but rather in the car, doing a shared chore, cleaning up dishes, playing a game and more.
• Let them talk on their timeline. If they don’t want to talk then sit quietly and let them feel your love and presence.
• Practice self-care. Together with your child, place value on the importance of sleep, nutrition, exercise and hydration.

For more information about childhood depression, visit the the following link to a presentation by Dr. Brene Brown or this link to Everyday Health.

By: ​Posted by Jane K. Sieve, LICSW, Ridgeview Clinics