Is My Ten Year Old Depressed?   Frank Barnhill M.D.
 

We always add depression to a list of possible diagnoses when a parent brings their son or daughter to the office with the complaint “Something’s wrong with little Johnny and I just don’t understand what’s going on.” “He hasn’t been his usual self lately.” The five to twelve age group is a tough one to follow emotionally.  Normal kids in this age group can be hyper, quiet, sleepy, withdrawn, personable, mischievous, thoughtful, moody, and hundreds of other descriptives all in the same day.  So, in order to pick up signs of early depression, a parent must really observe closely for changes in their child’s emotional and physical routines.  It’s hard to do this when you see the child everyday and that’s why sometimes it’s more obvious to others outside the home.  With that note behind us, lets take a look at some of the emotional and physical changes that make up the signs of depression in this age group.

A lot of experts feel that this may actually be the first sign of a depressed kid.  Either your child sleeps too much or doesn’t sleep as much as usual.  Some kids become “restless sleepers” and others may start having nightmares.

Some kids suddenly eat everything in sight and gain weight rapidly.  Others who are depressed may eat a little less or much less and start losing weight.

I’ve known kids who complained of being tired all the time or not feeling good, as their first sign of depression.  On the other hand, a few children will actually become hyper and full of energy as they try to compensate early in their feelings of being sad or blue.

When under the pressure of not understanding why they feel so different, some children develop wild mood swings and changes in the way they treat family and friends.  Close family members usually receive the worst end of the deal, as they are readily available to suffer the wraith of these kids.  Not all children develop bad attitudes during depressed episodes.  Some will become super sweet and start clinging more to parents, siblings and other relatives.  Both types suddenly seem to need more attention and will often get it one way or another.

If you notice your child no longer plays with a toy that he wouldn’t even consider sharing in the past or losses his appetite for a favorite treat such as ice cream, then start looking closer.  Some kids will refuse to go shopping with mom or to the movies or skating rink with good friends.  In boys, a big sign is lack of interest in playing Gameboy or other video games.  This should be considered unusual if the behavior change lasts for more than a couple of days.  If your child starts isolating himself in his room, then become very concerned.

I’ve seen kids who cut their own hair because it bothered them or they didn’t like it anymore.  Others have spray dyed their hair, gotten tattoos, or pierced ears, noses, lips, belly buttons in order to try to get rid of those down feelings.  Some kids starting dressing differently.  They experiment with unusual clothing like pants that barely cover their buttocks or untied shoes.  Beware of the child who suddenly improves his or her appearance.  This may also be a sign of trying to handle stress or depression.  Hopefully, you’ll find that they really do want to improve themselves, but this is rare in this age group and more likely to occur, as they are older.

When moms tell me that their child won’t take a bath or shower, refuses to brush teeth or comb hair and prefers to wear dirty, wrinkled clothing, then I can almost assure them that something is going on.  There is a stress in that child’s life.

Maybe you’ve noticed your daughter’s bedroom has suddenly become cluttered or just “trashed”.  That bicycle that your son washed and polished every week now lies on the ground in the backyard.  It’s filthy covered with mud and all scratched and dented.  These are just two more signs of a change in your child’s emotional status.  As we feel blue, not only do we start ignoring family, and ourselves but we don’t provide proper care for our possessions.  I knew one child who stopped feeding and watering his dog.  His family didn’t find out for three days.  The dog almost died.

These are just a few of the many signs of stress or depression in children.   Hopefully, I’ve given you some insight into the problem and how difficult detection can be.  On a parting word, let me caution you that some signs may be very subtle and occur slowly over weeks or even months.  Therefore, it may be best that you consult your family doctor soon if you have suspicions or concerns.  I hope this helps in your quest to raise healthy, happy children.

drhuggiebear, drhuggiebear.com and contained materials are the copyrighted and/or registered properties of Frank Barnhill, M.D. and may not be reproduced for profit without the express written permission of the author.  All materials may be photocopied in whole for educational use.  For information please contact us at drfrank@drhuggiebear.com.