It can be difficult to tell the difference between sadness and depression in children and adolescents because they share many common features. For example, a loss of interest in usual activities, sleep problems, body aches and pains, and problems in school or with peers are some of the more typical problems seen in children and adolescents who are either sad or depressed. However, feeling sad is a normal reaction to a loss or an unexpected stressor, such as the death of a grandparent or an impending transition (e.g., moving or changing schools).
For children who are sad, behavioral symptoms are usually time-limited because children typically have the internal resources to manage their feelings and to move beyond their sadness. On the contrary, for children and adolescents who are depressed, these symptoms may last two or more weeks. In other words, they don’t just ‘get over it’. It is difficult for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is also true for children and teens who live with chronic or life threatening illnesses, or those who have experienced significant trauma in their lives.
As a child and adolescent therapist, part of my job is help parents and their children to distinguish between sadness and depression. One critical distinction between the two is the presence of suicidal thoughts and plans. It is also important to determine how long the child has been experiencing these emotional and behavioral symptoms. This is why I place an emphasis on partnering with parents because they often provide useful information. Their observations are critical to understanding a child’s or adolescent’s mood and how the family functions. After all, children live in families!
Three Effective Treatment Strategies
In my practice, I integrate three effective strategies that help children and adolescents to cope with their depression.
- Self-hypnosis—a tool used to help children create a shift in their thinking and to manage negative moods
- Biofeedback—can show children how their bodies react to negative thoughts.
- Creative Expressive Therapies—depending on the child’s interests, I like to integrate drawing, play, and expressive writing into the therapeutic process
The Treatment Benefits
Helping children and adolescents learn new ways of coping has many positive and lasting effects:
• less family conflict
• increased school attendance
• better academic performance
• more positive social interactions
• alleviation of aches and pains
• improved coping strategies
If you are having a difficult time determining if your child is sad or depressed, make an appointment to partner with me to help your child address their concerns. Call me at 763-546-5797.
By Harriet Kohen, MSW, LICSW