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hey psychoers
welcome back to another video and thank
you all so much for being here
with your help and support we're able to
succeed in our mission to make mental
health and psychology more accessible to
everyone so thanks again
before we begin we would like to make a
disclaimer that this video is for
informative purposes only
it is not intended to treat or diagnose
any condition
if you're struggling please reach out to
a qualified mental health professional
with that said let's continue depression
can affect anyone
regardless of their age which means it
can also affect children
and adolescents statistics show that
about three percent of children between
the ages of 3 to 17
deal with depression however the
percentage tends to be higher in
children older than 13.
in the u.s alone an estimated 3.2
million children and adolescents have
had at least one major depressive
episode
and 31.9 percent have had an anxiety
episode
the causes of childhood depression can
vary but some are family history
bullying environment or family problems
physical illness or stress
despite common perception children do
experience stress
which can invariably if left untreated
cause depression
unlike in adults depression in children
presents itself differently
symptoms vary from irritability to low
energy
if symptoms last longer than two weeks
it's best to reach out to a healthcare
provider
so here are eight signs that signal
childhood depression
number one severe moodiness though
children are usually moody and feel lots
of heavy emotions
severe highs and lows can be a signal of
depression for example
your child may seem all right one moment
but suddenly they break out into an
emotional outburst the next
though emotional outbursts usually have
a trigger like a broken toy
an emotional outburst without a defined
trigger is a symptom of depression
they may be dealing with emotions that
they don't know how to articulate
let alone cope with another sign of
moodiness is
irritability they experience increased
sensitivity and hence more bouts of
irritability
this symptom can manifest itself through
angry fights increased emotional
sensitivity
increased anxiety or emotional numbness
if you notice these symptoms in your
child be compassionate
and always willing to listen without
judgment puberty is difficult enough
without having to deal with mental
health issues
number two low energy a hallmark symptom
of depression is low energy
your child may seem unwilling to do
things or participate in daily tasks
they exhibit lethargy or extreme fatigue
though this symptom is commonly
interpreted as
anemia especially in children it can
also be depression
depression represses many
neurotransmitters namely serotonin
serotonin helps you sleep but more
importantly serotonin helps you get rem
sleep
although your child may be going to bed
every night they may be having
difficulty getting the restorative sleep
they need
though for us adults sleep aids like
melatonin or sleeping pills help
it's best to keep these substances away
from children
number three lack of interest in fun
activities
depression robs you of any joy or
happiness
it sucks the color out of life creating
a now gray world in their eyes
if you notice that your child
experiences a lack of interest please
talk to them
let them know that you're willing to
listen without judgment if they're
willing to speak to you
suggest help from children and young
people's mental health service
specialists
number four change in eating habits
as a cause of lack of interest and poor
sleep children can also experience
changes in their eating habits
changes in eating and sleeping habits
are telltale signs of depression
regardless of age feelings of
worthlessness or hopelessness can affect
eating and sleeping patterns
causing your child to either overeat or
not eat at all
food triggers chemical responses in the
brain hence altering emotions
for example cars trigger a dopamine
release which allows your child to feel
comforted whenever they eat a plate of
pasta or sugary pastries
to help them cope with emotionally
triggered changes in eating habits
introduce a healthier diet filled with
nutrients and vitamins that can help
them cope with depression better
number five feelings of sadness or
hopelessness
depression is a mood disorder it almost
acts like
the death eaters in azkaban prison
depression can drain you of all of your
will
and gumption it can make a child feel
hopeless and worthless
at times it can instill feelings of
guilt
number six behavioral problems at school
as a result of the other symptoms they
can exhibit behavioral problems at
school
this sign is more of an indirect
byproduct of internal turmoil and
general irritability
they may end up starting fights at
school or be talking back
behavioral problems especially at school
can be inconvenient and irksome to deal
with
however if you suspect the lashing out
is connected to depression
try to be compassionate they may be
reluctant to talk about it but let them
know that you're willing and ready to
listen to them
when they're ready to talk number seven
declining grades
another result is a decline in their
grades
a decline in their grades can happen
gradually or immediately but it's a sure
sign
that they've lost interest declined
grades can also be a cry for help
by subliminally letting others know that
they feel emotionally overwhelmed
and number eight social withdrawal one
of the last
symptoms is social withdrawal extreme
shyness can sometimes be a sign of
depression
though that's not always the case they
may seem hesitant to make friends or
lose connection with their current
friends
do you relate to this video if so please
reach out to your child with compassion
and understanding
and talk to them if you notice any of
these depressive symptoms
depression can manifest itself in many
different ways however if you notice
that your child or teen becomes
increasingly focused on death
prefers isolation starts giving away
their possessions or is harming
themselves
then these signs are especially
concerning because they indicate that
they've been thinking about suicide
try and sit down and talk to them about
what they're going through
they may not want to talk back but this
lets them know that there is someone
there for them
please seek professional help to deal
with some of the symptoms discussed in
this video
we'll also include the suicidal hotline
in the description below
don't forget to like and share this
video if it helped you and you think it
could help someone else too
the studies and references used are
listed in the description below
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videos and thank you for watching
we'll see you next time