As a parent, you certainly don’t want anything bad happening
to your child, both mentally and physically. You always wish for the well being
of the child and want him or her to stay happy and healthy. But at times,
things are not completely in our hands, and the child can be affected by some
issue or the other, like depression. It is a mental condition that is generally
characterized by unexplained sadness and gloominess.
Depression can affect the mental health of the children
negatively and their ability to connect with friends and families. It can also
hamper their overall development and growth, which can affect their life at
school and everyday activities. Addressing the issue of depression is very
important, or else it will have a severe impact on the overall life of the
child. If you are parents of a depressed child, then here are some of the
things you must take care of to help your child to recover from their
depression.
Understand the symptoms of depression
To help the child, you need to understand the depressive symptoms in your child. There are some warning signs that you have to observe
for helping the depressed child. Look out for depression symptoms in the
childlike:
·
Hopelessness
·
Lack of interest in hobbies
·
Low self-esteem
·
Feel guilty and ashamed
·
Body aches
·
Fatigue
·
Suicidal thoughts
·
Loss of appetite
·
Sudden loss of weight or gain
·
Excessive sleeping or sleeping too little
·
Irritability or bored all the time
If you see these symptoms in the child, then take measures
accordingly, you can opt for the therapy measures you need to take.
Give the
child emotional support
The child goes through emotional turmoil during the
depression, and your support plays a crucial role at this time. Emotional
support from the family helps building social connections and relationships. To
do that, you have to spend quality time with your child and have a positive
conversation between you and the child.
You also have to listen to what your child is trying to say
to you and understand it as well. It would be best if you acknowledged their
inner feelings. Do not be pushy and try to gain the trust of the child so he or
she can open up to you about their problems, and you can find an amicable
solution for those.
Encourage a
healthy lifestyle
Leading a healthy lifestyle can help in easing the problem of
depression. You cannot order the child to lead a healthy lifestyle according to
you but can encourage him or her by explaining the benefits of it. Offer subtle
suggestions and show positive instances to them for supporting them to lead a
healthy lifestyle.
As physical and mental health is greatly connected,
exercising regularly can help in reducing the severity of depression. You can
walk with your child or even play games with them. It shall give them mental
and physical stimulation that can reduce the symptoms of depression.
Having healthy meals
and sleeping adequately can also help in easing the symptoms of depression and
can help the child to come out of the blues of gloominess caused by the issue.
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