Depression is relatively common in children and adolescents and may look very different than it does in adults. For example, depressed children may seem moody rather than sad, or lack interest in activities they once enjoyed.
They may show changes in their sleeping state or eating habits, say negative things about themselves or others, or expect bad things to happen in the future.
Some depressed children may appear tired and unmotivated, while others may appear restless.
Almost all children can feel this bad sometimes – this is normal; however, these children become problematic when they are “stuck” in feeling sad or bad. The good news is that there are some effective ways to help kids feel better and manage their emotions – so they don’t get stuck in this situation.
Depression can make children irritable, irritable or not doing things they once enjoyed.
How Do We Think and What Do We Do to Change How We Feel?
We are all influenced by what we think for ourselves and what we do in response to our emotions. It’s raining and you’re thinking to yourself, “Oh, it can’t be! Now all my plans are ruined!”; You may feel very bad and in turn go all day without doing anything.
If you do this, you may miss your chance to feel better. On the other hand, “I’m glad it rained; now you can stay inside and say, ‘I’ll finish the great book I’ve been reading,’ you’ll feel happy and do something you enjoy.
Children who are sad or in a strange mood are more likely to have negative thoughts about events in their life. As a result, they are less likely to choose activities that help them feel better. In this program, your child will learn ways to improve mood by changing thinking, changing behaviors, or both.
Why Is My Child Depressed?
Depression in children and adolescents has many different causes, including biological factors, psychological factors (such as thoughts and emotions), and social factors (such as school and friends). Depression often occurs as a result of loss of sense of control in children with many stressors and sensitive structures.
Sensitive Personality
A “sensitive personality” means that some children tend to be more easily hurt or upset. They react more strongly and more strongly to bad situations or to information that seems threatening. A child with a sensitive personality has an increased/higher risk of experiencing negative emotions and mood disorders throughout their lifetime.
Loss of Control
Children with a sensitive personality who feel they cannot control what happens in their lives are more likely to be negatively affected by bad experiences.
Something out of control can be aggravated by situations that limit this child’s ability to experience the world, solve difficulties, and get help when needed. Children need to believe that they have some control over bad situations by eliminating the situation or learning coping skills.
Stressful Experiences
Stressful experiences can also shape mood in children with a sensitive personality.
For example, vulnerable children who have failed may come to believe that they will not succeed, even if they have been quite successful in the past. A sensitive child who is rejected by peers may withdraw from social experiences. The same child may view something more negatively than it is or give up easily.
Negative Thoughts
Depressed children tend to view the world more negatively than other children. They are very good at imagining what could go wrong. This tendency manifests in three important ways: (1) what they pay attention to, (2) how they interpret situations, and (3) how they talk to themselves.
Attention
Depressed children focus more on negativities than other children. For example, they are more likely to pay attention to signs that the situation is not going well and to remember unhappy events more than happy ones.
Interpretation
Depressed children begin to have negative thoughts about themselves, others, and the world. For example, when depressed children are asked to think of reasons why they did not do well on a test, they are more likely to think “because I was not smart” rather than “because the test was difficult”.
Self-talk
Depressed children also produce more “negative” self-talk than non-anxious children. That is, they are more likely than other children to tell themselves things like “I’ll never do this” or “Things will never work out”.
Negative thoughts can cause hopeless feelings; Despair can lead children to give up rather than try to solve problems in their lives.
How Can Cognitive Behavior Therapy Help?
CBT helps children develop coping skills to solve their difficulties. Children are taught various skills. The therapist works with the child to identify the skills that will help him the most.
Children also develop these skills through practice/exercise, as a result they develop a new perspective.
Since most depressed children develop certain thought habits and behaviors, they may find themselves awkward, unwilling or unfriendly at the beginning of practice/exercise to try new ways.
When the child tries these skills, the therapist or a parent can act as a guide, encouraging and supporting the child.
In summary, CBT includes practical applications that help children/adolescents learn new coping skills and see the world from a new perspective.
