It is not possible to attribute depression to children. Maybe this is why, maybe because the symptoms in children are different, everyone thinks that children and adolescents do not have depression.
“This kid wasn’t like that.”
Children may find it difficult to express their sadness. Physical complaints such as abdominal pain, anger, and rapid crying are more prominent in depression especially seen in young children. How, then, can we distinguish such behavior from attacks of stubbornness that occur in every child during the growth stages? First of all, it is worth emphasizing that a professional (child and adolescent psychiatrist) should distinguish this situation. The most important clue that will enable families to understand whether there is a situation that requires help for their child is the significant change in children. If a child has a cheerful temperament but becomes sluggish, constantly whining, does not enjoy the games he used to love, does not want to go to his friends whom he likes to play with every day, if he gets angry and starts to have tantrums about things that he used to not be angry with, depression should be suspected. It would be more accurate to suspect temperamental characteristics or another problem in a child who has had these problems since childhood.
What are the symptoms of depression in children?
Being sad often, crying
Not wanting to play games that he used to enjoy, losing interest in favorite activities
Hopelessness
Fatigue, decreased energy
Social withdrawal, decreased communication
Hypersensitivity to rejection or failure
Difficulty in relationships (family, friend, teacher)
Unresponsive to treatment, occur frequently physical complaints (abdominal pain, headache)
Decrease in school success, not going to school
Difficulty concentrating
Serious changes in sleep and appetite (excessive increase or decrease)
Nervousness, anger
Running away from home
Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
Thoughts of death, suicide, self-harm
