Where low mood and loss of pleasure are often the two primary symptoms in adults with depression, kids are more likely to experience primary symptoms such as irritability and physical complaints.
Symptoms to look out for:
Symptoms of childhood depression include difficulty focusing and making decisions, extreme shyness, clinging to a parent, feeling hopeless, unexplained physical complaints, sleeping problems, appetite changes, and thoughts or actions of self-harm.
Sadness: Depressed children may have a general sense of sadness about their life and their future, or they may not be able to identify what they are sad about. They may cry a lot or tear up frequently for no obvious reason. Feelings of sadness that last longer than two weeks are a reason to talk to your child's pediatrician
Withdrawal from friends and family: When social withdrawal is associated with depression, it can contribute to a child's negative social experiences, which can reinforce depressive symptoms (such as worthlessness or feeling like no one likes or understands them).
Feeling misunderstood: A depressed child may feel that there is no one who can understand their feelings or that it is pointless to even try to talk about them. Your child may fear trying new things, speaking out, or sharing ideas out of fear of rejection, misinterpretation, or ridicule.
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