The health and well-being of our children is one of our top priorities in our lives. However, there are times when children may experience difficulties and challenges that cause them to feel frustrated, helpless, and hopeless. These emotions can have a negative impact on their physical and mental health and can even lead to the appearance of depression. Therefore, we need to pay attention to children's mood changes, especially those distress signals that may indicate depression.
Here are some distress signals that may indicate that your child is facing depression, and if you notice that your child has one or more of these symptoms, it is important to seek professional help promptly
1.Low mood: The child may feel depressed and helpless, lacking vitality and energy. They may often complain of fatigue, headaches, or other physical discomforts.
2.Loss of interest: A child may lose interest in an activity or hobby that he once enjoyed. They may avoid communicating with family and friends, and avoid social or school activities.
3.Sleep disturbances: Your child may have trouble falling asleep or waking up early, or may have trouble falling back asleep after waking up during the night.
4.Changes in appetite and weight: Your child may lose or increase their appetite, leading to significant weight loss or gain.
5.Difficulty concentrating: Your child may have difficulty concentrating while schoolwork, playing, or communicating with others.
6.Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness: Children may perceive themselves as worthless or inferior to others. They may be overly concerned about their appearance, academics, or relationships and feel dissatisfied with it.
7.Irritable and irritable: The child may become irritable, irritable, or defiant. They may lose their temper with family members, friends, or teachers, or even behave aggressively.
8.Anxiety and fear: The child may feel extreme anxiety and fear, creating unnecessary worries about the future and their own health.
9.Fatigue and weakness: The child may feel tired and weak and may not even be able to complete daily tasks or go to school.
10.Self-harm or suicidal ideation: Your child may exhibit self-injurious behavior or suicidal thoughts or words.
11.Abnormal behavior: Children may exhibit abnormal behavior, such as skipping school, running away from home, or over-indulging in virtual worlds such as video games, the internet, etc.
12.Alienation: Children may avoid communication with family and friends and become increasingly estranged from others. They may isolate themselves and be reluctant to participate in any activities or socialize with people.
These distress signals may indicate that your child is experiencing depression or other mental health issues. As parents or guardians, we need to pay close attention to our children's emotional changes and behaviors, detect them in time and seek professional help. Communicating openly and honestly with your child, understanding their feelings and needs, and helping them face difficulties and challenges is an important step in preventing and improving depression. At the same time, we also need to pay attention to our own emotional well-being and set a positive and healthy example for our children. Let's work together to create a healthier and happier environment for our children.