Are there any signs of depression in children? These 7 signs may indicate that something is wrong.

Today, young people are living in an era of rapid development of information technology, and they enjoy easy access to knowledge, but they also endure various challenges. Due to their immature mental development, they are likely to be affected by negative emotions such as anxiety and depression. At present, depression has become a problem that cannot be ignored as a threat to the healthy growth of adolescents.

From a psychological and psychiatric perspective, depression is seen as a mental disorder rather than just a simple mental health problem. Depression involves psychological factors, such as mood, thinking and behavior patterns, and can also be linked to changes in brain chemistry, genetic factors, biological differences, and other complex physical health issues. Liu Aihua from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital reminded that as parents, if they can grasp some knowledge about depression in advance, they may be able to identify the signs of depression in time and help their children.

Physiological factors are the main triggers of depression

Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is characterized by persistently low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, lack of energy, changes in sleep and appetite, decreased sense of self-worth, difficulty concentrating, extreme thoughts and behaviors, etc. There are four main causes of adolescent depression.

Physiological factors This is an important trigger for depression in adolescents. The adolescent brain undergoes significant growth and change, and this stage is a very critical period in the development of the individual, especially the prefrontal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as planning, decision-making, inhibition and control of emotions, which develops later than the rest of the brain. This imbalance in development means that adolescents are less mature in controlling their emotions and self-regulation. For example, they may be prone to anxiety or depression in stressful situations, or be tempted by instant gratification when faced with decisions rather than thinking about the long-term consequences. In addition, this immaturity in the ability to control emotions also means that adolescents are more susceptible to peer and social influences. In addition, neurotransmitters and genes in the brain play a role in the occurrence of depression, so having a family history of depression is also one of the risk factors for depression.

Psychological factors Adolescents are at a turning point in their lives, facing many challenges such as academic pressure, peer relationships, self-identity, etc., and if they are not comfortable coping with these challenges, it can lead to an increase in negative emotions and eventually develop depression. Negative thought patterns and coping styles, such as excessive worry, self-denial, etc., can also increase the risk of depression.

Social factors The family environment is one of the most important social environments in the growth of adolescents. Tensions in the family, violent tendencies, and parental mental health problems can all have a negative impact on the mental health of adolescents, as can peer relationships, school climate, social expectations, etc., and if you are in this unhealthy environment for a long time without the support and understanding of surrounding relationships, it may increase the risk of depression.

Life events Life events such as the loss of a loved one, family changes, and setbacks at school can cause great psychological stress to adolescents, and adolescents are often vulnerable to distress due to their lack of experience and skills to cope with such life events.

7 Signs That Could Be Wrong

Adolescence is a challenging and dynamic experience with academics, social relationships, and identity. Parents can pay attention to their children's emotions and behaviors to help them stop the signs of depression.

1. Depressed mood and instability

One of the main manifestations of adolescent depression is low mood and irritability, such as feeling sad, empty and helpless, loss of interest and enthusiasm for life, etc., and another emotional manifestation is temper tantrums and irritability. These emotions are not transient but persistent and have a negative impact on their daily activities and social life.

2. Insomnia or excessive sleepiness

Some teens who suffer from depression experience insomnia, such as difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep consistency, resulting in tiredness and lack of energy during the day. Other teens experience hypersleep and want to sleep all day, but no amount of sleep makes them feel refreshed.

3. Changes in appetite

Depression in adolescents is often accompanied by changes in appetite, some of which lead to weight loss and malnutrition, and some of whom overeat to relieve mood and other health problems such as weight gain.

4. Social withdrawal

Depression can also lead to reduced social activity and withdrawal in adolescents, avoiding communication with others, and further exacerbating their loneliness.

5. Self-evaluation negatively

Feeling worthless, incompetent, and unworthy of love, this negative self-evaluation traps adolescents in a spiral of self-doubt and self-blame, which exacerbates depression.

6. Difficulty concentrating

Difficulty concentrating on a daily basis, unable to complete daily tasks and schoolwork, and this lack of concentration is a common symptom of depression.

7. Physical discomfort

Teenagers report that they are not feeling well, mainly manifested as palpitation, chest tightness, nausea, headache, fever, etc., but they cannot find a specific reason for going to many departments in the hospital, and some children are even unable to go to school. This condition is known as somatization and is the process by which psychological stress or emotional problems turn into physical symptoms. Depression can cause physical symptoms such as palpitation, chest tightness, and can also affect the immune system, causing infections and fever. These physical symptoms, in turn, increase the psychological burden and form a vicious circle.

Therefore, once parents find that their child has the above depression symptoms, they must take him to the hospital psychology department as soon as possible. If left unchecked, the child's condition will worsen, and in severe cases, extreme behaviors such as self-harm may occur.

Parental care is key to adjuvant therapy

For the treatment of adolescent depression, the doctor's evaluation of medication is one aspect, and adjuvant therapy is also very important. In the process of adjuvant therapy, the importance of parents is indispensable. Parents can help their children get out of the shadow of depression by creating a good social environment and receiving professional psychological counseling.

Listen and understand Parents should listen and understand their children's inner world. Adolescents often feel confused and helpless due to stress and challenges, and have a desire to confide and be understood. At this time, parents should give their children enough respect and care, try to empathize, and understand their children's feelings and thoughts.

Creating a good living environment The family environment and social environment are essential for the mental health of adolescents. While creating a good family environment, parents can also guide their children to participate in more social activities and expand their circle of friends. Not only will this distract them, but it will also boost their self-confidence and social skills, which can help alleviate depression.

Seek professional counseling In addition to medication, psychological counseling is one of the important ways to treat depression in adolescents. Parents should take the initiative to help their children find a professional psychological counselor or psychologist to discuss and solve emotional problems. Through counselling, children can learn to better understand and cope with their emotions, build a positive mindset and the ability to cope with stress.

Improving oneself and maintaining emotional stability If you want to help your child cope with emotional difficulties, parents also need to improve, especially to maintain emotional stability. Only when you are emotionally stable can you comfort your children when they are emotionally unstable and be their safe haven.

In the face of adolescent depression, we cannot only rely on a single treatment method, but need to take comprehensive interventions, which not only provide scientific treatment for adolescents, but also require the full cooperation of parents, which is the perfect treatment model.

(Photo courtesy of Visual China)