ADHD,
Depression, and Your Child
For reasons not completely understood,
a child with ADHD is at greater risk for being diagnosed
with depression. Perhaps due to brain chemistry imbalances,
difficult life experiences, and low self esteem, depression
tends to plague children and teenagers who are struggling
to cope with the symptoms of ADHD. While there are
many challenges ahead for the child with ADHD, depression
adds a frightening twist to the situation. Children
and teens with depression are at higher risk for drug
use, school dropout, and even suicide.
There
is hope for ADHD and depression in children, especially
if parents are aware of the ADHD-depression link and
look for signs of depression in their child. The sooner
depression is recognized, the sooner it can be treated
and the less chance that depression will get a hold
of the child’s outlook on life.
How
does a parent recognize ADHD depression? Depression
carries a specific set of symptoms that can be identified
if you are looking for them. Here are some depression
signs that should be a warning sign for parents to
seek help for their child’s depression:
- Loss
of interest in normal activities
- Feeling
hopeless, sad, down, empty, and/or pessimistic
- Difficulty
sleeping or sleeping too much
- Difficulty
making decisions
- Unexplained
weight loss or weight gain
- Irritability,
being easily annoyed
- Feelings
of worthlessness, fatigue, low energy, or weakness
- Persistent
aches, pains, headaches, and digestive problems
with no apparent cause
The
symptoms of ADHD depression may vary from child to
child, as each person experiences depression and ADHD
in different ways. You may find that your child’s
ADHD and depression are obvious, while other parents
are barely able to see depression symptoms in their
child at all. The main concern is that children with
ADHD may have a 3 times greater risk for depression
than children without ADHD. Another concern for parents
is that treating a child’s ADHD will not necessarily
alleviate a child’s or teen’s depression.
It is typical for ADHD and depression to require separate
and concurrent treatments.
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