Causes of Depression In Children And Teens

You may think of depression as an adult issue, and often it is. However, children and teenagers can have problems with this as well. Life is not always easy, and even though children are often very resilient, they can have problems that are bigger than they can handle. If you notice changes in your child or your teenager, you may want to see if something bigger is going on with them. They may not have the same signs of depression that you may think of when thinking of an adult, but they can get it just as easily. If you understand some of the causes of depression in children, you can help them cope and get better.

Children and teens have different causes of depression than adults, but the underlying issues are always the same. They may feel as if they do not belong, which is more of a problem with teens than adults. Adults can feel that way, but most learn to accept who they are at some point. Teenagers and children are still struggling with identity and they can easily feel as if they are worthless if they are not fitting in what what they deem to be the popular or normal crowd of kids at school. This is one of the biggest causes of depression in teens that has been around for a very long time.

Other causes of depression in both teens and younger children are things that are happening at home. If parents are fighting a lot or going through a divorce, children find a way to blame themselves for what is going on. It scares them more so than parents think, as their home is their base of security. If it seems that that security is going to go away, they are going to act out and become depressed. Parents that are experiencing marital problems need to keep this in mind and be open with their children. You do not have to give details, but children need to be reminded that they are loved by both parents and that no matter what happens, that will not change. They also need to know nothing is their fault.

Other causes of depression can be present. They vary from child to child. When a child is depressed they are not themselves, much like adults act differently when suffering from depression. Children often withdraw from friends and start to do poorly in school. They may also be mean to animals and other children, and refuse to do as you tell them. This is when you need to talk with them about what may be bothering them. Teenagers may act out in different ways by hanging out with new friends, drinking, doing drugs, or cutting themselves with razors. These are all signs something is wrong and that they need help.

Understanding the causes of depression is important, but what is even more important is knowing what to do about it. Sadly, medications for depression often do not work well in children and teens and may make things worse. If you suspect that your child is struggling with depression, take them to see someone as soon as you can. You may find that setting them up with someone to talk to and talking to them yourself can help turn things around. Sometimes, changes need to be made, and it will be important for you to be open to making them no matter what.