• Home
  • Brooke Burke
  • Must Have
  • Recalls
  • Contributors
  • Contests & Twitter Parties
  • Become An Insider
  • ModernMom Store

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • Ask Dr. Psych Mom
  • Cooking
  • Around The House
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
  • Career
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Hot Topics
  • Games
You are here: Home / Parenting / Depression in Preschoolers

Depression in Preschoolers

December 10, 2010 by ds_12019 Leave a Comment

Depression is typically thought of as a problem that teens and adults have, but preschoolers can experience depression too. Studies have shown that chronic depression often begins in childhood. “One of the most important mental-health discoveries of the past 10 to 20 years has been that chronic mental illnesses are predominantly illnesses of the young,” said Daniel Pine, of the National Institute of Mental Health, during an interview with “The New York Times.” Preschoolers suffering from true depression can be helped by receiving early help and learning to cope with their unhealthy thinking patterns.

Considerations

Children go through many phrases. They are constantly growing and changing so the problems they experience one day may not exist the next. All children have a bad day from time to time. When a depressed mood begins to interfere with appropriate development, both socially and emotionally, parents need to consider whether a preschooler is suffering from depression.

Symptoms of Depression

Children can easily become stressed over events in their every day lives, just as their parents can. When a preschooler’s behaviors outlast any temporary event, such as the birth of a sibling or a move, then it may be possible that he is experiencing a depressive episode. Parents should watch for changes in eating or sleeping habits, self-destructive behavior, frequent tearfulness and social withdrawal. Parents should look at the overall picture to determine if a child’s behavior can be explained by anything else that is going on in his life at the time.

Treatment of Depression

Many parents are hesitant to put a preschooler on medication to treat depression, and doctors are often hesitant to jump to medication in young children. Research is currently being done to determine the effects of using medication to treat depression in children under 6 years of age. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be quite effective in children, because it teaches them to change unhealthy thinking patterns and gives them the skills they will need throughout life. Parents of depressed preschoolers may find it useful to participate in a support group or attend counseling sessions to learn how to help their preschooler and how to cope with the stress of having a child with a mood disorder.

Labeling

Labeling a preschooler as being depressed is something that many parents and professionals are undecided about. Many mental health professionals prefer to label preschoolers as having a mood disorder not otherwise specified (N.O.S.) to allow for the possibility that the preschooler may grow out of the depressive symptoms. Labeling preschool depression as being a mood disorder N.O.S. prevents a preschooler from being stuck with the label of being depressed, and the stigma that goes along with that, until the child is older and it can be determined how accurate a diagnoses of depression is.

Possibly Inherited

There is some evidence that depression in young children can be hereditary. Children of depressed parents have a much higher likelihood of developing depression or another mood disorder themselves. This may be partially due to the fact that depressed mothers are often less responsive to their children, and kids being the sponges that they are, tend to pick up on that and may mimic the behavior. While there may be a link between depressed parents and depressed preschoolers, many parents experience episodes of depression without passing the tendency onto their children.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_12019

Anna Ryan has served as an executive editor and feature writer throughout her career. Ryan has contributed to "Busy Mommy" online magazine and "Red Rock Reviews." She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Brigham Young University.

Search

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

The Little Boy On First Base

The Little Boy On First Base

To all the coaches, parents, and fans of little …[Read More...]

ModernMom TV

What Will Draw Smells Out of a Closet?

What Will Draw Smells Out of a Closet?

How to Draw Offending Odors Out of a Closet Closed closets …[Read More...]

Does Pregnancy Cause Flu-Like Symptoms?

Does Pregnancy Cause Flu-Like Symptoms?

Several pregnancy symptoms do indeed mimic flu symptoms, …[Read More...]

Toddler Hair Growth

Toddler Hair Growth

Some babies are born with luscious locks, while others are …[Read More...]

Signs of Allergies to Infant Formula

Signs of Allergies to Infant Formula

If you introduce infant formula to your baby, you'll …[Read More...]

Abdominal Pain on the Left Side in Pregnancy

Abdominal Pain on the Left Side in Pregnancy

Once you become pregnant, you may find yourself noticing …[Read More...]

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Long before ultrasounds were common, moms wanted to know …[Read More...]

How to Even Out a Spray Tan That Left White Spots

How to Even Out a Spray Tan That Left White Spots

Quick Fix to Spray Tan White Spots Spray tanning has become …[Read More...]

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2019 · Mom, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc. The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.