Depression occurs not only in adults but in children too. While not all children who wet the bed will suffer from depression, the low self-esteem and negative self-image that bed wetting causes can be a precursor to childhood depression. Children can go through an entire range of emotions in one day. From the highs of accomplishment in class to the low of bullying in the school playground. However real depression happens when the lows your child experience start to impact on his/her overall happiness.
Sometimes your child’s depression can be masked by other emotions such as anger or destructive behaviour. The difficult part of diagnosing depression in children is that it can manifest itself in so many forms, in fact different symptoms can surface at different times in different settings. Keeping a close eye on your child’s behaviour is key, you know them best and if their moods change depression could potentially be a cause. Knowing the symptoms of depression will help you spot it more easily.
The Depression in children article has more information about recognising the signs and systems, knowing how to deal with depression, examples of kids at risk, and where you can get help.