Childhood Depression

Childhood Depression

Childhood depression is a very real but sometimes elusive illness that affects the young today. We take a look at what it actually means and how unity and support in the family can help fight its hold over a child.
At the recently concluded Asia Pacific Suicide Prevention Convention 2006, we learnt a few startling facts about children and suicide. For example, in a worldwide survey, 7.3% to 38% of the children surveyed demonstrated suicide ideation, which is the idea of wanting to kill themselves. In Singapore, close to 4.7% of children entertain this morbid thought. While the figure may be alarming, there is no need to panic as it is actually not uncommon to think about suicide.

Elderly Care - Aged and Elderly Depression

Elderly Care - Aged and Elderly Depression

Very often depression in the aged is not reported and treated due to the social stigma attached with this condition or due to plain ignorance on part of the family of the elderly person. This not only doesn't help them, but can worsen their condition and make them susceptible to other ailments... including sometimes suicide. Also, elderly depression can occur due to the death of a spouse...which increases lonliness. Also, side-effects from certain medicines or due to certain long-term illnesses like diabetes and arthritis can have a profound effect on depression. The depression must be treated as soon as possible.

Adult Depression and Childhood Abuse

Adult Depression and Childhood Abuse

Depression runs in families. So does abuse. "Studies show that one in four girls and one in eight boys are sexually abused before the age of 18, and one in twenty children are physically abused each year." But sexual and emotional abuse, in particular, is woefully under reported. Most abused children grow up in an atmosphere of denial - denial by the adults around them and, for the most part, denial within themselves as a means of survival. Ultimately it is the secrecy around the abuse that helps to foster the depression. Additionally, neurobiology has expanded our understanding of how emotions affect brain chemistry. Traumatic events - such as any form of childhood abuse (sexual, emotional, physical) or neglect, changes the chemistry of the brain. These events can reshape wiring patterns and reset responses to them so that even a small degree of stress can produce an overabundance of stress hormones that in turn create anxiety and depression.

Common Symptoms Of Adolescent Depression

Common Symptoms Of Adolescent Depression

There are a number of signs that point in the direction of an adolescent having adolescent depression. These symptoms include changes in appetite, changes in sleep pattern, loss of involvement in normally popular activities, irritableness and sometimes unreasonable reaction to frustration and last but most certainly not least, statements of despair.
Changes in appetite or in eating pattern are a common and pretty strong sign of adolescent depression. In fact, it's among the key symptoms. More specific, the symptoms may be eating too much, eating too little, or even not eating altogether for a prolonged period of time. These signs of adolescent depression should not be mistaken for an eating disorder. However, sometimes these key symptoms could evolve into more neurotic behaviors, particularly whenever the patient starts to feel better after a change in diet.
Much like changes in appetite or in eating pattern, changes in sleep and in sleep pattern are also characteristics of adolescent depression though the behavior varies from person to person. Nevertheless, a drastic change in sleep behavior without any rational reason whatsoever should be considered to be a pretty strong and not to be neglected pointer.
There are a number of signs that point in the direction of an adolescent having adolescent depression. These symptoms include changes in appetite, changes in sleep pattern, loss of involvement in normally popular activities, irritableness and sometimes unreasonable reaction to frustration and last but most certainly not least, statements of despair.
Changes in appetite or in eating pattern are a common and pretty strong sign of adolescent depression. In fact, it's among the key symptoms. More specific, the symptoms may be eating too much, eating too little, or even not eating altogether for a prolonged period of time. These signs of adolescent depression should not be mistaken for an eating disorder. However, sometimes these key symptoms could evolve into more neurotic behaviors, particularly whenever the patient starts to feel better after a change in diet.
Much like changes in appetite or in eating pattern, changes in sleep and in sleep pattern are also characteristics of adolescent depression though the behavior varies from person to person. Nevertheless, a drastic change in sleep behavior without any rational reason whatsoever should be considered to be a pretty strong and not to be neglected pointer.