Depression in a child (adolescent) – what is it?
The word "depression" comes from the Latin deprimo - "to crush", "to suppress".
Depression in a child (adolescent) is characterized by depressed or depressed mood, reluctance to have fun, pessimism, sleep disturbances, and sometimes suicidal tendencies. Children between the ages of 10 and 17 experience various emotional upheavals: a quarrel with a close friend, conflicts in the family, failure at school, failures with the opposite sex. In addition, many are dissatisfied with their appearance (acne or “unfashionable” clothes, appearance that does not meet “beauty standards”), which also negatively affects the psychological situation.
The situation is aggravated by hormonal changes in the body: for some children they pass without a trace, and for some teenagers it is another storm of emotions that must be overcome.
Prevention of depression
First of all, modern psychology advises working on the climate in the family. In any case, a teenager will be faced with betrayal, problems, injustice in the outside world, and in order for his psyche to respond adequately to such challenges, the family must become the support and support that the teenager can always turn to.
Don’t criticize, don’t show aggression, be a friend and an interesting conversationalist for the teenager.
It is very important for the prevention of depression that children have interests and hobbies during adolescence. It is not at all necessary for a teenager to be involved in professional music or sports. A hobby can also be completely trivial, for example, collecting stamps. The main thing is that the process captivates the teenager and distracts him from negative thoughts that can lead to depression.
Do not overload your child in adolescence with moralizing and guardianship. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and cause depression. Of course, keep an eye on your teenager’s routine.
We wish your children to always feel happy, confident and not suffer from teenage depression!
Signs of childhood depression:
In the hustle and bustle of workdays, parents do not always have time to fully communicate with their children. But you can notice a negative attitude in a short period of time. Pay attention to the following symptoms:
· decreased interest in favorite activities (studies or hobbies)
· sleep disturbance (for example, cannot fall asleep for a long time in the evening or wakes up several times during the night)
Weight change (gaining extra pounds or losing weight)
· state of increased fatigue
Interruptions in appetite, prolonged refusal to eat
feeling of guilt or shame
absent-minded, unable to concentrate on a specific task
· reluctance to communicate with anyone
· thoughts of suicide
During the day, symptoms may not appear immediately, but gradually: the teenager wakes up in a good mood, has breakfast, and is happy to get ready for school. When faced with difficulties in class or communicating with peers, he begins to fill himself with negative emotions. Often there is a fixation on one’s experiences, a withdrawal into oneself; When he comes home, he may sit motionless, look at one point, and refuse to eat. At such moments, teenagers often complain about others, criticize any situation, notice only the negative side, without seeing the positive notes.
A thought settles in his head (I’m ugly/fat/boring/I have no friends/nobody loves me/nobody needs me), which accompanies him throughout his depressed state. Constantly thinking about this, he cannot fall asleep peacefully, which leads to sleep disturbance.
Depression in children is accompanied by a sudden surge of good mood - the child is happy, jokes, and communicates. But an hour later he sits again, tired, sad, dissatisfied.
How long will the treatment last?
Overcoming depression can take time; in this regard, unfortunately, no time frame guarantees can be made. According to Russian recommendations, treatment should continue for 4–6 months after remission, since shorter periods lead to an increased risk of relapse of depression. Therefore, the teenager will need a lot of support. Remember, depressive disorders are treatable! This is not a life sentence, and the teenager will not be registered with a psychiatrist if he does not pose a threat to himself.
Causes of depression in children and adolescents:
Depression in a child never occurs out of nowhere. There are always prerequisites for such a state. Most likely, the teenager was faced with a stressful situation, and due to his age, was unable to properly accept and survive it. And this is quite enough for a fragile child’s psyche.
The main reasons include:
1. Hormonal changes are a “turbulent” and lengthy process. The maturation of the reproductive system is accompanied by high emotional stress: irritation, melancholy or increased anxiety. As a rule, this period passes after 2-4 years. During this time, accumulated stress can easily develop into a serious disorder.
2. The realities of the adult world - he comes to understand that the world that he saw through children's eyes is not so kind and cloudless, but is full of cruelty and injustice.
3. Youthful maximalism - a teenager feels that he is being ignored, not seen and not noticed. Everything is divided into black and white, bad and good. Against this background, conflicts arise with parents and teachers.
4. Family conflicts - children react sharply to quarrels between parents, have a hard time with divorce or a difficult financial situation. It’s hard if he constantly hears criticism of himself or parents’ dissatisfaction related to poor performance at school.
5. Lack of friends. The most important thing for a teenager is communication with peers, a communication environment, and the opportunity to share common interests with friends. In adolescence, emotional emancipation from parents occurs: if previously the child shared his experiences with his parents, now he can close himself off and not talk about the events of the day and his experiences. In general, this is normal for a teenager, but it is important to find a place where this exchange of emotions can take place. Emotional contact
a teenager is looking for connections with peers, and if such contact was not found, there was no acceptance in the team, no establishment of friendships - for a teenager this is very painful and traumatic. He feels unnecessary and unsuccessful.
6. “Unideal” appearance – teenagers tend to worry that they don’t look like everyone else, are overweight (in their opinion), or that skin problems will turn the whole world against them. Failure to meet the notorious “beauty standards” or the standards accepted in a particular group (for example, it is necessary to be athletic or dress in branded clothes) can result in a teenager being ridiculed by the group, low self-esteem, anorexia and, ultimately, depression.
7. Frequent moves - separation from the established team and its usual comfort zone unsettles you. Having arrived in a new place, a teenager faces difficulties in communicating and creating new connections, which of course affects his condition.
8. Bullying at school - teenagers often show unjustified cruelty, which leaves its mark on the psyche.
9. Addiction to the Internet and computer games - in the virtual world it is easy and simple to be successful, in the real world it is much more difficult.
10. Increased loads - some children have a hard time with the school curriculum. And many parents insist on attending additional classes and clubs, believing that this is only beneficial. This rhythm of life creates an additional stressful situation that not everyone can handle.
11. Unrequited love or the first unsuccessful sexual experience - experiences in such a state take a lot of energy, and there is often no one and nowhere to share experiences and receive support.
What is the danger of teenage depression and how to prevent it?
22.07.2020
© depositphotos.com
Depression is a dangerous psychological illness that can occur in a child as they grow up. At this moment, it is very important to notice the first signs: if treatment is not started in time, the disease can develop into a chronic form and appear in adulthood with more severe consequences. Why parents should be more attentive to the psychological state of the child and how to prevent teenage depression, employees of ANO "CISM"
said psychologist and advisory member of the Professional Psychotherapeutic League
Elena Pavlova
.
– What are the signs that indicate that a child is depressed?
– The first sign of depression in adolescents is lethargy, apathy, refusal of any entertainment and decreased performance at school. Often, in response to a child’s loss of interest in school, parents begin to put pressure on him and criticize him, trying to force him to study. This is incorrect, since here we need to try to find out the reason why this happens. The opposite effect also happens: some children use study as a way to “escape” from themselves and their problems; on the contrary, academic performance increases, and parents do not take this into account, rejoicing at the child’s success.
When any problems arise, a person always begins to behave differently than before. Accordingly, with depression, for example, you want to lie all day long and do nothing. Adults interpret this as a sign of relaxation and begin to swear. Also, one of the signs of depression is insomnia; in adolescents, it most often takes certain forms: the child does not sleep, spends the whole night at the computer or on the smartphone. Such a disrupted regime is perceived by parents as sabotage.
The next sign is a disturbance in appetite and eating habits. This is also worth paying attention to. Another marker is loss of interest in usual activities and communication with peers. And, of course, the most invisible symptoms that only the child himself feels are depressive thoughts, a feeling of melancholy, a constant state of anxiety and fear, a negative perception of himself and others. Parents can notice this only when the teenager begins to ask some questions that are unusual for him, for example, about life and death. Here you don’t need to brush it off and call it “nonsense”; you need to try to find out why the child became interested in this topic, why he had such thoughts and what they are connected with.
Why do teenagers get depressed? Which children are at risk?
– According to WHO statistics, in Russia about 11% of boys and girls under the age of 18 suffer from depression. That is, this is every tenth teenager, but the statistics include only those cases that have been registered, so this figure could be much higher. Unfortunately, most often, depression during puberty goes unnoticed by others: parents often ignore the symptoms that are obvious to specialists, or mistake them for whims or age-related changes in character, so the only thing they resort to to combat this condition of a teenager is moralizing or even punishment .
Crises during adolescence are inevitable, as physical changes and hormonal explosions occur in children's bodies, which gives rise to emotional instability. During this period, the child begins to overestimate his life attitudes, his character and ways of social interaction with others change. At this stage, parents should under no circumstances exert pressure; the teenager needs to be supported, shown love and understanding. Indeed, in addition to the internal processes that worry him, pressure also increases from the outside: from teachers at school, from friends; first experience of relationships with the opposite sex. Added to this can be self-doubt. All these factors can lead a child into a state of depression if he does not feel supported by his family.
In addition, depression can also be hereditary. But more often the reason is the environment in which the teenager finds himself: what kind of relationship he has with his parents, how accepted and loved he is, how comfortable he feels in the family, how successful he is in this or that activity.
– Today’s youth are more likely to suffer from depression than past generations. Is this true? Why has this trend developed?
– Modern teenagers suffer from depression much more often than their predecessors. This is due to the fact that now an unlimited flow of information is directed at children, they receive it from a huge number of sources, and it is not always positive. Teenagers are very suspicious when they are growing up, and are often ready to believe everything they write and say on social networks. In addition, teenage self-doubt gives rise to the desire to compare one’s life with the “beautiful” life dictated by social networks. In addition, constant communication on the Internet makes children feel lonely in real life. That is why modern youth are more susceptible to developing severe psychological conditions. And parents need to teach their child to interact with the world from childhood, try to build a trusting relationship with him, so that he is not afraid to tell mom and dad about his problems and experiences.
– How to help a teenager get rid of depression? What consequences can happen if therapy is not started on time?
– A depressed teenager is initially worse off than an adult, because he has not yet developed the usual ways of protecting his psyche and is not able to ignore what is happening to him; he does not yet have the skills of emotional self-regulation. Very often, teenagers feel shame and guilt for their condition, this can manifest itself through aggression. They are hurt, but ashamed to cry and complain, and they express it as best they can. Therefore, most often an aggressive teenager is an unhappy teenager. Such children need help first and foremost, not education. And if it is not provided in time, during puberty, over time, depression will manifest itself in a more severe form. Therefore, early intervention directly affects the course of the disease in the future.
– How to convince a teenager to visit a psychotherapist or psychologist?
– If parents discover symptoms of depression in a child, there is no need to rush, you need to work carefully and start small. First of all, try to restore lost trust, show support, interest, and offer help. At this moment you need to be completely on the side of the child. If depression has already taken a clinical form, then you need to seek help from specialists. And as experience shows, the most effective remedy in the fight against teenage depression is conversational practice in combination with properly selected medications.
I will say right away that it is best for a parent to go to an appointment with a teenager. Only in this way can a psychologist take a good look at the current situation. When you voice to your child the idea of going to a psychologist for a consultation, in order to convince him of the need for such a visit, you need to follow a certain algorithm. The first thing is to under no circumstances take the “should” position, talk to the child as an equal, as with an adult. Try to explain to him that now you may not understand each other, but despite everything you love him and want to help. The second is to convey to the teenager that someone else is needed to resolve the current situation and offer to choose a specialist together. Third, the parent can try to say that he himself wants to go to a psychologist to sort out the existing problems between him and the child, but explain that if he goes alone, the psychologist will not have the opportunity to hear two points of view.
If in the end these methods did not help convince the teenager, you can simply offer to go to the first meeting and say that if you don’t like it, you will no longer return to this topic. But in no case should you put pressure, force, blackmail, threaten or make any excessive promises. It's taboo.
– What role do social networks and the Internet play in the formation of depression?
– According to researchers at the University of Montreal, social networks and television shows have caused a decrease in self-esteem in adolescents and, as a result, a trigger for depression. In their opinion, television and social networks include content that presents the lives of other young people in a very positive way, creating an idea of an ideal life. Teenagers involuntarily begin to compare themselves with those they see on social networks, find themselves dissatisfied with the result, and this dissatisfaction becomes the reason for the development of depression. Thus, the more time a child spends on social networks, the higher the risk of developing depression.
Tags:
teenagers child safety
Some signs of potential depression in a teenager:
Feeling of emptiness and meaninglessness – a teenager can study well, lead a normal life, but still feel empty. There is no understanding of why he lives; everything seems monotonous and uninteresting to him.
"I do not want anything". Lack of interests, lack of desire to communicate, make friends, apathy.
“No one needs me” - the feeling of being not needed by anyone becomes driven. Having fallen under the influence of a stronger comrade, the disorder only intensifies.
Emotional swings. Sudden changes in mood, prolonged bad mood can be replaced by fits of rage and aggression, and then passivity and self-deprecation.
Conversations about death and suicide. If a teenager has become interested in the topic of death and suicide, it is important to pay attention to this in time. A teenager may use phrases such as “there is no point in living”, “we will all die anyway”, “I don’t see the point...”.
Pointless actions, fixation - fixation on a useless activity, for example, constant presence on social networks (regularly updating the “feed”, in anticipation of new meaningless information).
Drastic changes - a teenager dramatically changes his social behavior, changes his appearance (dye his hair, piercing). Changes may concern lifestyle, interests, social circle and worldview.
“Always successful” are children who “bend themselves out of their way” to achieve positive results and achieve success. But behind the screen of a “successful teenager” is a child who hides his true experiences. Often such achievements do not bring moral satisfaction and are accompanied by a strong fear of disappointing parents.
Each individual item may not necessarily be a sign of depression, but a combination of signs and/or clearly expressed manifestations may be a cause for concern and referral to a specialist.
Types of depression:
Reactive – considered a benign type of disorder. This condition is typical for teenagers who have experienced severe emotional shock. For example: parental divorce or death of a loved one.
Melancholic – characterized by a state of depression and melancholy, interest in everything is lost, often sits in one’s room in one position or moves slowly (lethargy). Against the background of these symptoms, sleep and appetite disturbances develop. For girls, disruptions in the menstrual cycle are common. Suicidal thoughts may be added to prolonged melancholy.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by rapid changes in phases, sometimes in short periods of time. The younger the age, the shorter the phases and can range from several hours to 2-3 weeks. Mania manifests itself in the form of aggression and anger. Psychologists may not notice bipolar disorder, citing “adolescent character changes,” so it is recommended to involve a specialist with a narrower profile (clinical psychologist, psychiatrist).
Dysthymia is a long-term mental disorder that usually lasts for a year, possibly several years. The child appears passive and lonely and cannot concentrate on completing a specific task. May be accompanied by sleep disturbances and loss of appetite. This disease often becomes chronic and is occasionally interrupted by mood changes.
Severe (major) depression is protracted. Lasts from six months to 9 months. The teenager is sad and irritable, he is not interested in anything. Symptoms may not be obvious, for example sleep disturbance: the parent refers to fatigue and workload. Some children begin to “eat up” this condition with large portions of food. This is the moment that should alert you. The situation is aggravated by thoughts, in some cases, suicide attempts.
You should pay special attention if you increasingly hear references to death and suicide, for example:
1. Reads poems and stories about suicide, or has begun to write on this topic himself
2. Romanticizes death and the dying person.
3. Jokes about death
4. Says goodbye to family and friends as if for the last time
5. Frequent injuries and cuts
6. Hear the phrases: “It would be better if I died,” or “Why was I born?” or “There is no way out”
In this case, you need to act immediately and find a specialist to provide assistance as soon as possible.
Which doctor treats depression?
Psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and sometimes psychologists deal with depressive disorders. Unlike ARVI, which in most cases can be dealt with independently at home, depression requires mandatory medical supervision, since the causes of the disease are different. Hence the different treatment methods. As a rule, adolescents are prescribed medication, psychotherapy, and are also given recommendations for lifestyle changes. Normalizing sleep and wakefulness, sports, a balanced diet - all these simple things can really contribute to the fight against depressive disorder.
What should parents do?
The family atmosphere is very important for the formation of the child’s psyche. Parents will always pay attention to their child’s unusual behavior. But what exactly should you do if you have problems with your studies or school friends?
If you notice signs of depression, experts advise the following:
· Talk in a comfortable environment for him. Try to find out what exactly caused the concern and this result.
· Help strengthen his self-esteem. Show him how important and meaningful he is to you and those around you.
· Find out about his hobbies, what he is interested in, what he does while you are at work.
· Limit custody, make him feel that you trust him.
· Give the right to choose, do not decide everything for him.
· Try not to criticize, but to direct them to the right action.
· Avoid high-pitched conversations, try not to conflict.
· Find a common interest - this could be an evening walk together, or riding bicycles, or playing football. Attend master classes: draw and create.
Psychologists advise finding as many common points as possible. It is important for a child to feel supported and cared for. But do not forget that increased guardianship will only harm and complicate the situation.
Always sincerely say that you love, appreciate and respect him. Warm and trusting relationships in the family are the key to good mental health of all its members.
If you understand that the situation is beyond your control, do not delay visiting a specialist.
I'm a teenager and right now I'm contemplating committing suicide.
Be sure to talk to someone! If negative feelings become so unbearable that you can't find any solution other than self-harm, you need immediate help! We understand that the decision to apply for it may not be easy for you, but it is truly very important! You need to turn to someone you trust, such as a friend, family member, teacher. If you have no one to discuss your problem with, share with our specialists who are ready to listen - call the hotline:
- 8 800 2000 122 - hotline for psychological assistance to children, adolescents and their parents, 24 hours a day.
- 8 emergency psychological assistance center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
- 8 children's helpline of the Moscow Department of Education, 24 hours a day.
- 051 from the city center or +7 495 051 (MTS, MegaFon, Beeline, Tele2) - emergency psychological help telephone number of the Moscow service for psychological assistance to the population.
- 8 hotline for teenagers and their parents in St. Petersburg.
Don’t forget also about emergency medical services (103) and emergency services (112).
Whatever your situation, remember that there is another solution, even if you don't see it right now. Having thoughts about harming yourself or others does not make you a bad person. The disease can make you think and feel things that were previously unusual. If your feelings are uncontrollable, try to wait another 24 hours before taking action, and during this time, do not isolate yourself and be sure to talk to someone. Tags:
- Depression
- Children
- Teenagers
- Psyche
To leave a comment you must be an authorized user
Treatment of depression
Depression in children and adolescents is a serious illness that requires consultation with a specialist. Parents must understand that only they can help their child by recognizing the characteristic signs. You shouldn’t leave things to chance; it’s better to keep everything under control, following the advice of a specialist.
The mild form lends itself to counseling treatment: this can be individual work with a psychologist or visiting a psychological group. Severe cases (for example, suicide attempts) require a more serious, medicinal approach. In such cases, a psychologist and a psychiatrist often work in pairs, complementing each other.
Usually the first specialist you need to turn to for help is a psychologist. During the conversation, he helps to understand the cause of the disease. It will help you find out what emotions and feelings accompany a teenager. Using different techniques, the specialist will be able to explain what fears and doubts have settled in the child’s head. There is a possibility that after communicating with a psychologist, he himself will find ways to solve the problem and get out of this state.
A psychologist will help you cope with mild forms of the disease. If the situation is complex, then you will need additional help from a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.
A psychotherapist is a doctor who helps patients cope with mental illness. The treatment regimen contains psychotherapeutic techniques in combination with drug treatment.
To make a diagnosis, the doctor conducts a conversation with the patient, during which he assesses his condition. Diagnostics helps to establish the exact disease that accompanies the teenager, as well as determine the method of treatment.
If the protracted nature of the disease is revealed, then conversations alone will not be enough. Antidepressants can be added to treatment, which will relieve symptoms of anxiety and apathy, help eliminate irritability and cope with fears.
Diagnostics
If you suspect depression, you should visit a psychotherapist or psychiatrist for an accurate diagnosis. Diagnosis is based not only on symptoms visible to the average person.
When diagnosing, the doctor collects information that he takes directly from the child, his parents and teachers. The patient undergoes a brief psychological test. The Beck scale, Hamilton scales and Montgomery-Asberg tests are used.
Self-diagnosis is not effective. Diagnosing a child with depression is difficult even for specialists. The reasons are that the symptoms are very variable, unstable, and masked by somatic manifestations. Children's isolation and sadness are often falsely perceived as depression. And vice versa - depression is perceived as isolation and sadness. One or three symptoms are not a sign of disease.
If a child is irritable or sad, this does not mean depression. Manifestations also depend on the characterological characteristics of the individual and age.
"Empathy" - studio of practical psychology
Children and teenagers with various emotional problems come to Empathy. We help them overcome difficulties. To do this, our team has specialists who have been working with children and adults for 14 years, helping to deal with internal problems.
Adolescence is a period of personality development. And our task is to help the child not go astray. We help teenagers and parents find and maintain the harmony in which everyone can live and develop comfortably.
“Empathy” runs psychological groups for teenagers, where kids can share important experiences, get support and feedback, learn how to build relationships with peers and find friends. Here a teenager can share his problems, and we will help him understand and understand himself. In this format of communication, support, respect and trust in peers are formed, and the prerequisites for the development of depression in a child go away on their own. Of course, we cannot talk about a universal panacea, but psychological work in a group is obviously a prevention of depression; if necessary, we also refer the teenager and parents to specialists with a more specialized profile.
If you are faced with misunderstanding within your family, or have discovered signs of depression in a child, contact us for help. We are waiting for you at the Studio of Practical Psychology “Empathy”.
How to properly treat depression in adolescents?
Depression must be dealt with comprehensively and only under the supervision of a professional psychologist, psychiatrist or psychotherapist. First, the specialist conducts a consultation with the teenager to make a diagnosis. Sometimes an initial examination and interview is sufficient to prescribe treatment. In some cases, the doctor may write a referral for additional examinations to rule out other diseases of the nervous system.
If you are unsure whether to take your child to a psychotherapist for help, first seek help from the school psychologist. He will be able to observe the teenager or have a conversation with him. A visit to a doctor must be voluntary. Of course, at first the child will deny that there is a problem. Your task is not to put pressure on him, but to gently lead him to the fact that he needs help if he wants to feel good and confident. It is much easier to persuade a depressed teenager to visit a psychotherapist if you initially have a trusting relationship with your child, so try to build the relationship correctly, starting at an earlier age. You can learn more about the proper upbringing of teenagers in our previous article here.
Having determined the type and stage of depression, the doctor decides on therapy. If the child communicates well, cooperates with doctors, and his symptoms of depression generally do not cause serious concern, he may be prescribed psychotherapy without taking medications. If, during the examination, signs of a severe form of depression are identified, then taking antidepressants cannot be avoided.
Child psychotherapists have special psychological techniques that help, during a conversation, to identify the causes that led to the disease and effectively work through and analyze them in order to change the teenager’s attitude towards the things that bother him. Psychotherapy sessions to help with teenage depression can be conducted one-on-one or as part of a group (family).
Depending on the identified symptoms and causes of depression, doctors may prescribe complex drug therapy. To help with moderate to severe cases of teenage depression, vitamin complexes, antidepressants, stimulants, hormonal drugs, painkillers, sleeping pills, etc. are used.
Before prescribing medications for depression, your doctor must notify you of the addictive potential and proper completion of treatment. Once you start taking antidepressants as prescribed by your doctor, do not stop them abruptly at your own request. This may make the condition worse. If your child experiences any adverse reactions while taking it, contact your doctor to adjust the treatment.
Parents must be patient during treatment for teen depression. A friendly and natural atmosphere should reign in the family so that the child does not feel excessively fixated on himself and openly accepts help. You should try not to conflict and talk a lot on abstract topics.
