Depression
As many as 1 in 10 children suffer from Depression. Many of the following symptoms are the same for adults as well as teens:
• sadness
• helplessness
• hopelessness
• fatigue or loss of energy
• feeling worthless
• low self-esteem
• change in appetite
• inability to concentrate
• loss of interest in activities
• change in sleep patterns
• recurring thoughts of death and/or suicide
• excessive guilt
Some children may be unable to express the above mentioned feelings and thoughts, and may express their problems in the following behaviors:
• a sudden drop in school performance
• crying
• inability to sit still
• expression of fear or anxiety
• wringing hands; pulling or rubbing the hair, skin, clothing or other
• aggression, refusal to cooperate, antisocial behavior
objects
• use of alcohol or other drugs
• slowed body movements, robot-like speech or refusing to speak
• complaints of aching arms, legs or stomach, without cause
• outbursts of shouting or complaining or unexplained irritabiltiy
• increase in risky, dangerous behavior
Complicating the recognition of depression are the “normal” developmental stages that children and adolescents pass through on the way to adulthood.
Negativism, clinginess, or rebellion may be normal and temporary expressions of a particular stage. In addition, children go through temporary depressed
moods just as adults do. When symptoms of possible depression seem severe or continue for more than two weeks, an evaluation by the child’s pediatrician
to rule out a physical illness would be a good first step. If physical illness is ruled out, the next step would be consultation with a mental health professional
who specializes in treating children. Also, remember that a history of depression on either side of the family increases the likelihood of depression.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders represent psychological and physiological difficulties, and unresolved emotional conflicts often contribute to the creation and maintenance
of an eating disorder. Society’s image of how the body of a woman or man should look can also contribute to the emergence of an eating disorder. Eating
disorders usually appear during adolescence, but it is possible for younger children to develop these conditions. Keep in mind that though the majority of
cases involve young females, males and females are both at risk for developing an eating disorder.
Anorexia: This disorder is best characterized by a refusal to eat in which teens actually starve themselves. They have a distorted view of their body and feel
as though they are too fat, when in fact they may be becoming unhealthily thin. Signs may include:
• A preoccupation with thinness
• Skin dries, yellows, and becomes covered with soft hair
• Abnormal weight loss continuing past a healthy point
• Depression
• Sudden mood swings
• An immense fear of gaining weight
• Striving for perfection
• Excessive exercise
• Behavioral changes
• Denial of hunger
• In females, amenorrhea - absent or irregular menstrual periods
• A preference for eating alone
Bulimia Nervosa: A bulimic is usually of normal weight but will binge on large quantities of food and then rid themselves of it by inducing vomiting or by
using laxatives or diuretics (known as the binge and purge cycle). Signs of Bulimia include:
• Constant questions about whether they are thin enough
• Frequenting the bathroom after meals
• Food is missing on a regular basis
• Swollen salivary glands or broken blood vessels in the eyes
• Raiding the refrigerator at night
• Conversations focused on looks, food and weight
Compulsive Overeating: A compulsive overeater will also eat huge quantities of food but will gain weight in the process and then diet to lose the weight.
Signs of this disorder include:
• Food and eating have become an obsession, taking up all their time and mental energy
• Continuous eating - after eating a big meal, the teen has second or third helpings, continues to pick at leftovers, or turns to snacks
• Yo-yo dieting - he/she goes on a diet, loses a significant amount of weight, and soon thereafter gains it back
• A decrease in energy and feeling sluggish
• Secret eating - food is missing or he/she is hiding food
• There are mysterious food wrappers in the wastebasket, drawers, or pockets
Once you have discovered that your teen has an eating disorder, it is important to seek medical attention immediately due to the serious medical
complications that can result from these conditions, such as heart irregularities, severe damage to the gastrointestinal system, and severe damage to the
kidneys. There should be regular physical monitoring by a medical doctor who understands and specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. Treatment
may include individual, group, and/or family therapy, and some programs may use outpatient therapy or hospitalization for physical stabilization.
Identifying the problem - Common Youth Problems and Disorders
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