Depression

New Beginnings Pediatrics Our Services Depression

New Beginnings Pediatrics

Pediatrics located in Glendale, AZ

Occasionally being sad or feeling hopeless is a part of every child's life. However, some children feel sad or are uninterested in things that they used to enjoy, or feel helpless or hopeless in situations they are able to change. When children feel persistent sadness and hopelessness, they may be diagnosed with depression. Like anxiety, depression is not one disorder but a category of conditions. Major depressive disorder is the most common.

Examples of behaviors often seen in children with depression include:

  • Feeling sad, hopeless, or irritable a lot of the time
  • Not wanting to do or enjoy doing fun things
  • Changes in eating patterns—eating a lot more or a lot less than usual
  • Changes in sleep patterns—sleeping a lot more or a lot less than normal
  • Changes in energy—being tired and sluggish or tense and restless a lot of the time
  • Having a hard time paying attention
  • Feeling worthless, useless, or guilty
  • Showing self-injury and self-destructive behavior
Some children may not talk about their helpless and hopeless thoughts and may not appear sad. Depression might also cause a child to make trouble or act unmotivated, causing others not to notice that the child is depressed or to incorrectly label the child as a troublemaker or lazy. Depression can also cause children to act irritable or angry. Depression and anxiety often co-occur among children, adolescents, and adults.
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