Adult vs. Child Depression

           

Did you know that depression presents differently 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