The Cleveland Clinic reports that depression “can affect people of any age, including children. Although children naturally have mood swings as they grow and develop, depression is different.”
It's normal for children and teens to feel down sometimes. When kids experience a difficult event such as the loss of a loved one, for example, they may feel grief or deep sadness. For a while, they may not be able to feel happy even when doing the things they usually enjoy.
Depression does not only affect adults. Children and young people can get depressed too. It's important to get help early if you think your child may be depressed. The longer it goes on, the more likely it is to disrupt your child's life and turn into a long-term problem.
An estimated 3.2 percent of kids between the ages of 3 and 17 have diagnosed depression, which is about 1.9 million people. However, while depression is often associated with moody teens, major depression is most commonly diagnosed in adults between the ages of 40 to 59 (7 percent of men, and 12 percent of women).
Some Consequences of Depression
Depression in childhood may predict more severe depressive illness in adulthood (National Institute of Mental Health). Depression in children and adolescents is associated with an increased risk for suicidal behaviors (National Institute of Mental Health).
It's common for preschoolers to feel down, be cranky or think negatively. This is part of healthy emotional development. But childhood depression is more than just feeling sad, blue or low. Depression is a mental health problem that affects children's thinking, mood and behaviour.
A child who cries over everything may be struggling with anxiety or depression, and therapy can help. A therapist can help your child learn how to handle criticism and setbacks without getting overwhelmed. Why is my son crying for no reason? Your son may be crying because he is dealing anxiety or depression.
Children are more likely to experience sad moods when they are dealing with tough life circumstances. For example, children who are managing family separation, grief, physical illness, learning problems, family poverty, family ill health or other tough life situations are more likely to experience frequent sadness.
How common is childhood depression and anxiety? Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health disorders in children. About 7% of children ages 3 to 17 have anxiety; about 3% deal with depression.
The first born may experience certain emotions differently than the middle and youngest child or visa versa. According to Adler, the first born is more susceptible to depression because of high expectations of parents and suddenly losing the attention due to another sibling being born.
At any age, crying is a normal response to being overwhelmed by strong feelings, like anger, fear, stress, or even happiness. Some children, however, cry more than others. Those same children may get angry more often, feel frustrated faster, and get overly excited compared to their peers too.
Midlife Can Make You Miserable
A 2008 study of data from 2 million people found that midlife depression spans the globe. In the U.S., it peaks at around age 40 for women and 50 for men, and usually starts to lift in the 50s.
Occasionally being sad or feeling hopeless is a part of every child's life. However, some children feel sad or uninterested in things that they used to enjoy, or feel helpless or hopeless in situations they are able to change.
While it may feel you're sad for no reason, something is likely causing your negative mood. Many factors can contribute to chronic sadness. “The changes in the seasons, feeling stressed or overwhelmed, feeling jealous or left out, being tired or hungry… any type of emotional change can come across as sadness.”
Severe grief or disruption can cause anyone to cry, and that's normal. Prolonged crying that persists without reason is not normal and may indicate a serious condition requiring treatment.
Children are more likely to experience sad moods when they have to deal with tough life circumstances. For example, children who are managing family separation, grief, physical illness, learning problems, family poverty, family ill health or other tough life situations are more likely to experience frequent sadness.
It's normal for children to feel worried or anxious from time to time, such as when they're starting school or nursery, or moving to a new area. Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear – it's an understandable reaction in children to change or a stressful event.
Those who are considered “gifted” are especially likely to experience depression, particularly existential depression, a type of depression that centers around thoughts about life, death, and meaninglessness as the name might suggest.
Children cry when they feel pain, fear, sadness, frustration, confusion, anger, and when they cannot express their feelings. Crying is a normal response to upsetting situations that a child cannot resolve. When the child's coping skills are used up, crying is automatic and natural.
Your young child may experience mood changes according to adjustments in sleep, eating, schedules, and interests. You may also notice new phases where your child is temporarily moody during a developmental change. For example, as kids approach puberty or a big change like a new school, they might be moody for a bit.
Highly sensitive children are wired to process and react to their experiences in the world more deeply than other children. A highly sensitive child is very attuned to their environment, experiences, relationships, and expectations. A child's high sensitivity is about their temperament.
For children, anger issues often accompany other mental health conditions, including ADHD, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Tourette's syndrome. Genetics and other biological factors are thought to play a role in anger/aggression. Environment is a contributor as well.