Depression is a serious medical condition that can negatively affect a child's ability to connect with friends and family, enjoy normal daily activities, attend school, and concentrate. In short, enjoy childhood. A good diagnosis and a treatment plan are a good start. But overcoming depression takes time and there may be relapses in the process. To help children with depression, it helps to know what to expect during the process, and when to seek additional help.
As parents, you must be prepared to face any problem, big or small. This includes taking care of the children's mental health. If a child's attitude is seen to change, it is important to take a step forward to address the situation correctly and positively. During childhood and adolescence you can have major depressive episodes, so you have to be alert for the signs. If you suspect that your son or daughter may be experiencing depression, here are some steps that can be taken.
Understand the symptoms of depression
For adults, the defining characteristic of a major depressive episode includes a depressed mood almost every day for a period of two weeks. But children, what they experience the most is irritability. However, there are other symptoms or signs of depression What to pay attention to:
- Irritability, sadness, withdrawal, or boredom most of the time
- Does not enjoy daily activities
- Sleeps too much or too little
- Weight gain or loss
- You feel hopeless or helpless
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Fatigue
- Thoughts of death or suicide
How to treat depression to help your children
Treatment for depression can be long And sometimes it involves trial and error. No two children are the same and it is important to be patient with the process in order to help your child feel safe. We will see ways to approach the Depression.
Education to help children with depression
Educating children about depression is the first and most important step. This can help your children better understand possible causes., whether due to genetics, environmental factors, intimidation, stress, etc. It also helps them understand brain chemistry and reduce self-blame for feeling this way, as they feel depressed from having low serotonin levels.
Education, and understanding that depression is an illness that can be overcome, normalize what your children are going through. This standardization will make them less reluctant to seek professional help to fix their problem.
Psychotherapy to help children with depression
Having a mental health professional is an option for children struggling with depression. There are different types of psychological therapies and what works for one may not work for another. For childhood depression, play therapy is the most viable option. In contrast, for older children and adolescents, cognitive behavioral therapy may be more effective.
It can take time to find the best match between patient and therapist. If you have any doubts, don't hesitate to call and ask the therapist. You know your children better, and coordinated work between the psychologist and you is essential.
Medications to complement psychotherapy
Medications may be necessary for moderate to severe cases. They tend to work better when combined with therapy. In addition, taking medication indicates that the problem is serious, therefore it is usual that this medication is closely supervised by the doctor who prescribes it.
It is also important to know that thanks to the supervision of the doctor, the medication will change according to the evolution of the patient. In other words, the medication will be totally personalized, it will be adapted to the patient's condition. If it improves, the doses will be reduced, and if at some point it worsens, then the necessary will be increased.
Hospitalization as a Last Resort
Hospitalization is the best option for the most severe cases of depression, including those who have recurring thoughts about suicide, or unsuccessful suicide attempts. These cases of major depression must be constantly watched in a safe space where they cannot harm themselves. In addition, in the hospital they make sure that the necessary medication is taken properly.
In hospitals they also offer psychological therapy to mental health patients. Therefore, in the hospital patients have all possible treatments to accelerate their improvement and that they can return home as soon as possible. With constant therapy, medication, and physician supervision, the hospital is the safest environment for depressed patients with suicidal tendencies.
Strategies for Helping Depressed Children at Home
Even with medication, there is no quick fix for depression. The process of overcoming this disease can be long and complicated, not only for the patient but also for those closest to him. Thus, family support at home is essential to be able to overcome depression. Let's see some tips for apply to daily home life:
- Encourage daily exercise. It is not necessary to enroll him in a gym or sport if he does not want to, taking a walk in the company of his family is enough. Walking is a very beneficial exercise for the mind, and much better in company.
- Monitor medications at home. Especially if your children take them, it is important not to leave them with that great responsibility. By controlling that they take their medication correctly, you not only help them not to skip doses, but you will also be calmer, or calm, knowing that they are doing it well.
- Encourage communication. The therapist will help your child begin to open up and verbalize his feelings. The parents' job at home will be to listen to you and give the necessary support when your child wants to talk about how he is doing.
- Caring for food. Eating healthy, as well as a generally healthy lifestyle, can help you respond better not only to therapy but also to medication.
Children and adolescents are not "mini adults." They are developing and changing at a rapid rate, even when they are depressed. Symptoms may intensify or decrease during treatment. There will be many ups and downs, days when it seems like you're going a lot, and others that are going much further back. Irritability, feeling overwhelmed, and outbursts are common in depressed children, and parents should remain calm and actively listen to what the child is saying.
The natural tendency of parents is to want to fix it or stop it as soon as possible, but mental illness is a complicated subject. It cannot be fixed or stopped. However, it can improve. With the right treatment and supports, depressed children thrive and can enjoy their childhood again.