Childhood Depression

Childhood depressive disorder often goes unnoticed and is misdiagnosed because of lack of knowledge. This paper is an informative one that is meant to educate its readers on signs and symptoms of such a disorder. I will also be writing about the treatments for Childhood depressive disorder. There are therapies and prescribed medicines that help children who are depressed get through their daily lives. I took an interest in this disorder because childhood is supposed to be the most stress free, happy time is someone’s life but for some children it is not. I’m curious to know what could cause a child to so unhappy. As a mother I want to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the disorder because if ever my own child or a child close me becomes depressed I want to be in a positions where I knew something was wrong and what steps I need to take as a parent to help my child. The details I plan to discuss in this paper are what childhood depressive disorder is and where it comes from, the effects of the disorder, how the disorder affects family and other systems, and how social workers and other professionals are able to help a child with this particular disorder. Childhood Depressive Disorder is defined as an illness that prevents the child from his or her everyday functions. Though everyone feels some sadness on occasion, when this feeling becomes constantly recurrent, it is considered a disorder. Children under stress, who experience loss, or who have ADD/ADHD, learning, conduct or anxiety disorders are at a higher risk for depression. This is because children, unlike adults, have a harder time verbally expressing their internal emotions so they tend to act them out. People who are unaware of childhood depressive disorder automatically label the child as “hyper” or “challenged” or simply “disobedient.” Some of the causes of Childhood Depressive Disorder are death, divorce, and family additions. Children tend to cope with death in different ways. Some don’t really