Public Service Announcement: Childhood Depression

[thenakedcat]

Comments

[7owti5]

For parents, I think it's very important to understand your kid's true nature, and see changes and the impact of things like moving, losing friends, etc. for what they are to the child. Not overlaying their experiences with our own fears or hopes can be really hard, but my parents interpreted my depression and willingness to die as a sign of maturity. Because I became so sober, and so not-fun, they figured that I had outgrown childish things and had turned into a 30 year-old overnight.

This is nothing I'd wish on any parent or child, so please keep your eyes open and clear.

[thenakedcat]

Serious behavior can be as age-inappropriate in a kid as silly behavior in an adult, and is equally a sign that something could be wrong. But, like you say, it's also very important to know your kid and their personality. Some kids are always more serious/angry/teary/silly/cheerful/random than others, and it's the alteration in behavior that's the tip-off.

[laurabryannan]

I'm sorry you struggled like this when you were so young, but I'm glad you came through the other side. This is a valuable post!

[thenakedcat]

It's something I've come to terms with now, because the struggle to recover made me who I am today, in some very important ways. But there are better ways to learn those lessons.

[cyanglow]

LOL wow. I had about half those signs starting at about age 7. It was bad enough the school counselor was frequently calling me in and trying to get me to talk. She even contacted my parents, but that was when mom was all, "Stop being difficult." I bet if I showed this to her now, it would serve as a massive guilt trip. ;p

In all seriousness though, this is a lot more common than people want to realize. Thanks for posting it. :)

[thenakedcat]

I'm really, really sorry that you had to go through this, especially at such a young age, but also glad that you're okay now. It is so much more common than we want to think, because there's this cultural perception that kids are naturally happy and everything rolls right off them.

[cyanglow]

Oh hay, don't be worrying about me. That is nothing but bollocks. But it is great to educate the masses, and i will support that effort to all means.

[day_eight]

It's always awesome to see you post such helpful, informative things. My son is turning two in May, but I know that these will be signs I will look for when he gets older. ♥'s and thank you~

[thenakedcat]

I'm very glad that these days the message is reaching parents while the kids are still young enough. Back even in 10 years ago it just wasn't on people's radar that kids had very real mental illnesses.