Providers for Healthy Living Blog for Psychiatry and Therapy Thoughts and Ideas

Signs of Depression in Children and Teenagers

11/25/2019

By ABCS RCM

Depression, as a mental health condition, is not something that is taken lightly. It is an inflection that impacts millions of people each year. In 2016, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 16.2 million U.S. adults had at least one major depressive episode. Yet, depression also occurs in young people. This is why is crucial to know the signs of depression in children, adolescents and young adults.

General Information on Childhood Depression:
In recent years, childhood depression is increasingly seen as a serious mental health condition. In general, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ADHD, behavior problems, issues, and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder in children. For diagnoses of depression, 3.2% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 1.9 million) have diagnosed with the condition.

As a side note, these mental health conditions sometimes occur together. For example, 75 percent of children ages 3 to 17 years old with depression, also have anxiety disorders (73.8%). In the same age group, roughly 50 percent of these children with depression also experience behavior problems.

Some families may be reluctant to discuss mental health issues. This may still be a taboo topic that family members wish to avoid thinking about. However, it will greatly benefit their child if they have and open and honest discussion about mental illness. Maintaining a stigma against behavioral and mental health can be dangerous in the long-run.

Conditions like depression negatively impact young people’s lives in a variety of ways. Their ability to successfully carry out normal day-to-day activities is greatly curtailed. This is why it is essential parents, teachers and caregivers understand childhood depression and recognize the symptoms.

Recognizing the Signs of Depression:
Identifying the signs of depression in children is difficult. It is typical behavior in children to sometimes display mood swings. Temporary feelings of sadness should not be mistaken for clinical depression. Yet, due to the difficulty of separating signs of depression from the normal emotional and psychological change that accompanies childhood. Due to this fact, depression is sometimes undiagnosed and untreated in children and adolescents.

It is important to track the persistence of the sad feelings in children. Parents and caregivers should record the frequency and severity of any intense mood swings. This includes monitoring any event or situation that seems to trigger these symptoms in the child. If these feelings of sadness become persistent, or interferes with social activities, interests, schoolwork, or family life; this could indicate that the child has a depressive illness.

Only trained and knowledgeable mental health provider with experience in this field can offer a diagnosis. There are actually many signs and symptoms of childhood depression. However, there are symptoms that adults can watch for in children and teenagers. Here are ten prevalent symptoms that could indicate depression in children:

[1] Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
[2] Withdrawal from previously enjoyed activities.
[3] Increased sensitivity to rejection or criticism.
[4] Displays of irritability or anger.
[5] Changes in sleep and appetite.
[6] Frequent crying or temper tantrums.
[7] Difficulty concentrating, tiredness and low energy.
[8] Physical ailments that do not respond to treatment.
[9] Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
[10] Thoughts of death or suicide.

Not all children who are suffering from depression will display all of these symptoms. In reality, most children will have different symptoms at different times and situations. In general, it is best to seek professional help if children display any of these symptoms for more than two weeks.

It is fairly rare for children under the age of 12 to attempt suicide, but may do so impulsively when they are upset or angry. Children with depressive symptoms are at a greater risk for suicide. The same is true for children with a family history of violence, substance abuse or sexual abuse.

Concluding Thoughts:
With professional help from mental health professionals, adults can help children with depression lead better lives. But adults need to understand how to identify the disease. Children and adolescents are not simply miniature adults. They are physically and mentally developing at a rapid pace. This means that symptoms can intensify and lessen throughout the treatment process.

Parents may find that the depression appears cured, only to have a relapse of the depressive behavior occur in their child. Mental illness is complicated, so working through depression takes patients and will include relapses. However, with the proper treatment, time and love; children can be healthy and happy.

For additional information about childhood depression or other topics, please contact Providers For Healthy Living. As a behavioral & mental health practice, they have been providing experienced behavioral health services since 2011. Their direct phone number is 614-664-3595 or 419-605-9817.

How to Manage Stress During the Holiday Season

11/14/2019

By ABCS RCM

The holiday season is seen as a time of celebration and happiness. Yet, for some people, the holiday season is a time of stress and anxious feelings. All of the activity that surrounds the holidays is seen as a chore or unwanted obligation. These feelings of sadness or anger can become more intense when contrasted with the joy that people are expected to feel. There is even an expression for these feelings, the holiday blues.

A number of seasonal factors can trigger these feelings such as, reduced sunlight, changes in diet, altered routines or the inability to be with friends or family. Other factors spring from shopping for gifts, travel, office parties, etc. Interestingly, the biggest sources of holiday stress for many people are related to family issues and demands. These can arise from dinners, traditions and other family obligations. All of these factors can seriously affect a person’s mood.

An end result of having the holiday blues is that this time of year does not fill some people with cheer. The assumption that family holiday gatherings are supposed to be joyful and stress-free can make people feel worse about themselves. In reality, family relationships create complicated dynamics. For people who are experiencing clinical depression, or have had depressive episodes in the past, holiday stress can trigger serious problems.

Holiday Pressure:
People may feel pressure to be happy and outwardly jolly during the holidays. Family and societal expectations can create tension. Unrealistic or high expectations are often difficult to meet, which creates a pattern of negative feelings. If people try too hard to be happy, they can sometimes make themselves feel even more miserable. At the end of day, this external stress can make people feel more anxious in general.

Beyond the planning for the holidays, there are a number of factors that can make individuals feel more anxious. Some of the factors that may contribute to holiday anxiety and depression include:
* Associating the holidays with unresolved family issues.
* In order to appear happy, people ignore feelings of sadness, loneliness, or depression.
* Facing the loss of a loved one with whom holidays were shared in the past.

There is no perfect list of strategies for managing the stress of the holidays. However, there are some general guidelines that people can follow which will greatly reduce their stress level. The following list was generated by the American Psychological Association (APA). Although far from complete, this list is a good starting point for dealing with excessive holiday stress, anxiety and depression.

[1] Track Your Finances: Understanding and managing spending is a useful tool and will reduce some anxiety. People should maintain a daily list of their spending. People should brainstorm ways to reduce their expenditures and then follow the plan. This may create anxiety in the short term, but in the long term it will pay off.

[2] Connection of Stress and Money: The lack of money can sometimes create conflicts between couples and families. This financial anxiety may motivate people to relieve their stress by engaging in unhealthy activities such as alcohol/drug use, gambling or emotional eating.

[3] Make a Holiday "To-Do" List: If people are afraid that they will forget to complete some important holiday tasks, they should make a to-do list. The list can be written on paper or created in a digital format, with tasks marked in order of importance. Not only will this list reduce the risk of forgetting something, but it will provide an additional level of focus.

[4] Stay Healthy: Holiday stress is more manageable when people eat healthy meals, get enough sleep, drink plenty of water and maintain a regular exercise program. When people do this, their bodies can better weather the effects of stress. At the very least, taking the time to read a good book, taking a short walk or listening to some favorite music can do wonders.

Remember What is Important:
People need to remind themselves what is important for them during the holiday season. By setting realistic expectations for gifts and holiday activities. Instead of trying to take on everything, identify the most important holiday tasks and take small steps in order to accomplish them.

The overall goal during the holiday season is to stay grounded. When individuals take time for themselves, they can feel less pressured to be everything to everyone. As the American Psychological Association points out, sometimes self-care is one of the best things people can do for themselves. They will benefit from activities that make them feel less anxious and depressed.

Everyone eventually needs to reflect and focus on the present. This act alone will help people be mindful and in the present rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. If feelings of depression persist and start to negatively impact people’s quality of life, they should seek help from a trained mental health professional. They should not be ashamed or feel like they have to go it alone.

About Us:
For additional questions about holiday-related stress, as well as other mental health issue, contact the staff at Providers for Healthy Living. They have multiple office locations in Central Ohio. Their behavioral and mental health programs provide a full range of treatment options for both children and adults. Since 2011, their clinical team’s focus is on achieving and maintaining good mental health.

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