Understanding Childhood Depression: Causes and Symptoms

It is important to know about depression and the causes of childhood depression. Everyone, including kids, have times when we feel happy, sad or depressed.  But if your child feeling depressed for too long or the feelings are very strong, you must be aware because your child might have a serious mental problem that requires medical treatment. Childhood depression is a persistent sadness, so be careful to not jump into conclusion just because you see your kid feeling sad for couple of days. Depressed child tends to feel discourage, self-worth’s loss and little interest in activities he/she used to like.

Many experts still not sure what are the causes of childhood depression. One or combinations of several factors related to Parents’ divorce, loss of important person, trauma, neglect, and failure to keep up with friends or achieve at school, physical health, environment, genetics, and loss of a relationship with boyfriend/girlfriend, family history of depression and biochemical disturbance can cause childhood depression. There are biological, psychological and environmental factors that can affect to depression. Physical illness such as low thyroid level can also cause fatigue and other symptoms similar to depression. Whatever the cause might be, it is important to realized how hard depression can be and where to seek for help.

Besides knowing the causes of childhood depression, it is also important to learn about signs and symptoms that can occur on depressed child. Several of the most common symptoms of childhood depression include having low self-esteem, persistent sadness, feeling hopeless or helpless, excessive guilt, inadequate feelings, sudden loss of interest in activities used to like, decrease energy, relationships difficulties, sleeping too little or too much, changes in weight, hard to concentrate, hard to make decisions, suicidal attempts, running away from home, aggression, irritability, and frequent physical complaints like fatigue or headaches. If your children shows some of these symptoms don't be to worry because a child can be considered depressed if the symptoms have last for more than two weeks, drastic mood changes compare to how he/she before, and the problems causing distress with friends.

So you’ve learnt about the symptoms and causes of childhood depressions. It is important for you to know where to seek for help if you think your child might be depressed. One-third of children respond well to therapy and don't need it again, the other one-third may need some medication and re-enter therapy, and the rest one third may need to have a long term therapy. Childhood depression is a very serious problem and you should get immediate treatment.

Description: Childhood depression is a serious mental condition. Learning about the symptoms and the cause of childhood depression can make parents get immediate treatment for their child.