Ways To Treat Childhood Depression

Depression is a rather tough mental problem that thousands of individuals in the world have to contend with. Some of us realize what this is like and have endured through it in our own way. Although it is hard to see somebody going through this problem there is a way to help them.

When we think about depression most of us think about adults and maybe even teenagers who have gone through a horrible loss, abuse, or are dealing with very real issues in their life. We never think of the hundreds of young children who are fighting it. It is hard to think about this because we automatically believe that children have carefree views and never concern about anything or even have to.

But there are several kids in the United States alone who live in a home where divorce, abuse, and even peer pressure is a very real problem for them. These effects are real to them and can cause them to feel sad, depressed, and even hopeless. It can be difficult for these kids to sometimes speak about how they are feeling and so they bottle them in and become more depressed with time and more despairing.

If you are a parent, sibling, friend, or other type of relative you have to learn to acknowledge the symptoms of childhood depression. They will not know the need and importance of seeking assistance and will feel that there is nobody they can turn to. Be picking out the symptoms you can get them the assistance that they need.

Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Loss of interest in activities they once loved
• Won't eat
• Eat too much
• Are not social with people they know
• Sad
• Withdrawn
• Hopeless

One of the best methods that you can treat childhood depression is to find a counselor or therapist that will be able to function with them. They need to be someone that they are able to trust and whom they are able to talk to when they are having troubles. This is more effective than anti-depressants - which are able to have negative side effects in children. Also ensure that if you are the parent that you make them feel comfortable and show them just how much you love them.