“Adult vs. Child Depression”
Deborah Serani, Psy.D.
Did you know that depression presents differently than in children than it does in adults? Though the disorder of depression can occur in in kids, teens - and even babies, the symptoms don’t always look like adult depression. Take a look at the differences below so you can learn how to detect this serious, but treatable disorder. For more, read my award-winning book “Depression and Your Child: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers.”
| Signs of Depression in Adults |
|
Signs of Depression in Children |
|
Depressed mood |
|
Irritable, fussy or cranky |
|
Anhedonia (Decreased interest/enjoyment in once-favorite activities)
Negative thinking, helplessness |
|
Boredom, lack of interest in play, giving up favorite activities
Blames self for failures, misperceives peer interactions, socially isolates, resists new experiences |
Significant weight loss or weight gain |
|
Failure to thrive, fussy eating, overeating and weight gain especially in adolescence |
Insomnia or Hypersomnia (Excessive sleeping) |
|
Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, difficulty emerging from sleep, hard to awaken, frequent napping. |
Psychomotor agitation, restlessness or slowness |
|
Difficulty sitting still, pacing, very slow movements, clingy, little or no spontaneity, overly aggressive or sensitive |
Fatigue or loss of energy |
|
Persistently tired, appears lazy, sluggish, reports aches and pains, frequent absences from school |
Low self-esteem, feelings of guilt |
|
Whiny, cries easily, self-critical, feels stupid, unloved or misunderstood |
|
Inability to concentrate, indecisive |
|
Sulks, appears foggy, distractible, poor school performance, forgetful, unmotivated |
|
Recurrent suicidal thoughts or behavior |
|
Worries about death, talks about running away, writing or drawings about death, giving away favorite toys or belongings |
My thoughts on Depression and Your Child
When Pump Up Your Book offered this book tour, I immediately signed up. As the mother of adolescent sons, I feel that reading and learning as much as I can about what could affect my child is very important, especially in the case of my older son who was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety disorder when he was five years old. He has had a very hard time of things, and has even been bullied, on and off over the years. Sadly, the bullying still continues and I know that these situations can lead to depression so I want to be as proactive as possible...with both my sons.
This is a truly great book. The author is very knowledgeable on the subject and clearly outlines the steps to define, diagnose and treat depression in a child. The use of real life case scenarios gives the reader a more broad understanding of how depression applies in different ways to different individuals. A very important chapter on self-harm and suicide is included and I found this to be most informative and helpful, especially since "suicide is the third leading cause of death for children ages ten to twenty-four." I mean, we hear the horror stories in the news and it's scary. Knowing what to watch for is very important and this chapter is a terrific resource for that. The book also supports those who are parenting a depressed child. Emphasis on self-care and "me time" for the parent is discussed and I liked that. Being the mother of a child with disorders, I can sometimes forget about my needs and it's good to be reminded. The chapter that covers the "Twenty Depression Myths Every Parent Should Know" dispels any doubts one might have about depression...that it's very real and it is a medical problem, etc. Finally, I found the appendices in the back really interesting and informative. Appendix B with a list of High Profile People with Mood Disorders. This is a great list to share with your child to show him/her that they're not the only ones who have suffered from depression. Appendix C is a list of Resources and I was especially grateful for the Antibullying resources.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has children. Even if your child is an infant, as I learned in the book, depression can be present from infancy so this is an important read for new parents too. My view is that it's better to be safe than sorry and staying informed on all aspects of what could affect my children is very important to me. This book will be a much appreciated, and referenced, addition to my parenting resources bookshelf.
Seeing your child suffer in any way is a harrowing experience for any parent. Mental illness in children can be particularly draining due to the mystery surrounding it, and the issue of diagnosis at such a tender age. Depression and Your Child is an award-winning book that gives parents and caregivers a uniquely textured understanding of pediatric depression, its causes, its symptoms, and its treatments. Author Deborah Serani weaves her own personal experiences of being a depressed child along with her clinical experiences as a psychologist treating depressed children.
2013 Gold Medal Book of the Year Award – IndieFab (Psychology Category)
https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/depression-and-your-child/
2014 Silver Medal Book of the Year Award – Independent Publishing (Parenting Category)
http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1791
For More Information:
- Depression and Your Child: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers is available at Amazon.
- Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
- Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
- Watch book trailer at YouTube.
About the author
Dr. Deborah Serani the author of the award-winning books “Living with Depression” and “Depression and Your Child: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers.” She is also a go-to media expert on a variety of psychological issues. Her interviews can be found in ABC News, Newsday, Women’s Health & Fitness, The Chicago Tribune, The Daily Beast, The Associated Press, and radio station programs at CBS and NPR, just to name a few. She writes for Psychology Today, helms the "Ask the Therapist" column for Esperanza Magazine and has worked as a technical advisor for the NBC television show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. A psychologist in practice twenty five years, Dr. Serani is also a professor at Adelphi University. For More Information:
- Visit Deborah Serani’s website.
- Connect with Deborah on Facebook and Twitter.
- Find out more about Deborah at Goodreads.
- Visit Deborah’s blog.
- More books by Deborah Serani.
- Contact Deborah.
A copy of this book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for providing it.
