One think a child with ADHD doesn’t need is another condition to tear away at progress they’ve made learning how to deal with ADHD. Statistics show that children with attention deficit disorder are more likely to suffer from depression.
Although sadness is a normal, healthy sentiment, depressive disorder is a mental health condition that is all encompassing. Unhappiness will cause one to temporarily lose appetite, sleep, and vitality, but depression goes beyond those problems, additionally affecting how one feels, thinks and acts. In youngsters, depression can take hold at a very young age. It is a serious brain disorder that can stem from a number of triggers including injury, eating habits and feelings of isolation among others.
It is estimated that one in 33 children is depressed, while possibly one in eight adolescents have problems with the ailment. Childhood depression is altogether treatable though, and medication is not always required. There are psychiatrists who specialize in working with children, and successfully utilize psychotherapy to treat depressed kids. The end goal, with or without medication is to help the child take back power over their thoughts and feelings to be able to lead a more regular life.
For children struggling with depression, it isn’t simply a matter of “snapping out of it.” If parents observe anything amiss with their child’s conduct, all too often they attribute it to momentary sadness. A failed test, youthful heartache or just feeling blue may cause sadness, but sadness should lessen eventually. Depression is much more significant and persistent. Symptoms may include:
~ Hopelessness ~ Irritability~ Missed school and/or poor performance ~ Changes in eating and/or sleeping habits ~ Feelings of worthlessness ~ Withdrawal from friends or preferred activities
Should parents notice any of these behaviors or attitudes, it could be a sign that something is seriously wrong. If a child is depressed, the sooner the condition is recognized, the better. Many children affected by this illness never get the help they need. Studies show a strong relationship between non-treatment and relapse. According to the Center for Mental Health Services, a young person who has experienced the disease is at risk for a recurrence within five years. Failing to deal with the situation can have long term ill effects on the child. The National Institute of Mental Health says childhood depression can lead to suicidal behavior and is an indicator that a more serious oncoming of the illness may follow in adulthood.
Other studies point to certain risk factors that suggest some children are at higher risk. As noted in the Archives of General Psychiatry in 2010, children who were identified as having ADHD between the ages of four to six years old are more likely to become depressed. Likewise, the National Institute of Mental Health found that adolescent girls are at greater risk than boys in the same age group, and that a family history can play role in the development of the disease, particularly in younger kids.
This illness is fully treatable for children with the help of a childhood psychiatric practitioner. A psychiatrist is a great choice, rather than perhaps using the services of other mental health professionals because he/she is a medical doctor. As such a psychiatrist has the training to eliminate other plausible medical causes for the symptoms, and to prescribe drugs when needed. Childhood psychiatry focuses on strategies that help the child understand how their thoughts, emotions and actions are linked. Through testing, psycho-therapeutic consultations, ongoing reviews and, as appropriate, medication, a patient is brought back from the mental abyss.
Alternative treatments include relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga in addition to natural, holistic and/or herbal remedies. Natural herbal solutions are usually risk-free but like the majority of medications, when used improperly, they can exacerbate symptoms. An excellent example is the use of St. John’s Wort, generally known to address mild feelings of sadness, this herb should not be taken with other antidepressants and is not effective for treating severe mental illness. Psychotherapy, by contrast, is a safe, constructive method for treating the brain disorder in children, making it an excellent first resort when depression has set in.
Review this article about Childhood Depression and ADHD in Children.
Read more about Childhood ADHD Statistics.