Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Male Depression

Your mom or your best friend may suffer from depression. While most people don't like to talk about it, there is a segment of patients with depression that never talk about it and rarely seek help for it. Male depression is probably more common than you think. If you are a woman, and your husband seems to be acting differently and does not seem to be himself, perhaps you should consider that this is going on with him. Men handle depression in different ways, most refusing to accept that this is what is going on emotionally. They will just tell you that they are tired or worn out, but there could be more to it.

Men can develop depression just as easily as women, but women are often the only ones that will really talk about it. For men, they think of male depression as a sign of weakness, even though that is not what it is. They often feel that they have to be strong for their families and that there is no way something like depression can happen to them. This is why many of the cases of depression in men go untreated. Men won't go to the doctor because they feel sad and out of sorts. Some men have trouble going when they have a physical problem too. If those men get depressed, they will probably remain that way for a while.

Signs of male depression are going to be harder to pick out, but if you know someone well enough, you can pick up on the signs. Some men spend a lot more time napping and they end up sleeping longer than they normally do. This may be something you may notice more if the man in question is usually very active. They will just tell you that they are tired, which may be, but if it goes on for a while something else may be wrong – and that something may be male depression.

Other signs of male depression are withdraw from normal activities that they once loved. This is a sign for both sexes, but for men, it may be more pronounced. They may start spending more time playing video games or being on their computers instead of going out with friends and playing sports. Whatever it is that they are into, they will seem as if they are no longer interested. They will say they just don't feel like it. You will know if this is normal for them. Some men don't do a lot, but if the man in question is often out doing something and stops, you may want to think about male depression.

The reasons for male depression are the same reasons why women develop this problem. Some have seasonal depression, which means that they get sad and tired in the winter. They usually come out of this in the springtime. Others go through something at work or in personal relationships. Men have a harder time talking about things that are bothering them, so that can be why they fall into male depression very easily and without warning. It can be hard to get them to open up, but if you can, talk to them about how they feel and what their options might be to feel better.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Causes of Depression In Children And Teens

You may think of depression as an adult issue, and often it is. However, children and teenagers can have problems with this as well. Life is not always easy, and even though children are often very resilient, they can have problems that are bigger than they can handle. If you notice changes in your child or your teenager, you may want to see if something bigger is going on with them. They may not have the same signs of depression that you may think of when thinking of an adult, but they can get it just as easily. If you understand some of the causes of depression in children, you can help them cope and get better.

Children and teens have different causes of depression than adults, but the underlying issues are always the same. They may feel as if they do not belong, which is more of a problem with teens than adults. Adults can feel that way, but most learn to accept who they are at some point. Teenagers and children are still struggling with identity and they can easily feel as if they are worthless if they are not fitting in what what they deem to be the popular or normal crowd of kids at school. This is one of the biggest causes of depression in teens that has been around for a very long time.

Other causes of depression in both teens and younger children are things that are happening at home. If parents are fighting a lot or going through a divorce, children find a way to blame themselves for what is going on. It scares them more so than parents think, as their home is their base of security. If it seems that that security is going to go away, they are going to act out and become depressed. Parents that are experiencing marital problems need to keep this in mind and be open with their children. You do not have to give details, but children need to be reminded that they are loved by both parents and that no matter what happens, that will not change. They also need to know nothing is their fault.

Other causes of depression can be present. They vary from child to child. When a child is depressed they are not themselves, much like adults act differently when suffering from depression. Children often withdraw from friends and start to do poorly in school. They may also be mean to animals and other children, and refuse to do as you tell them. This is when you need to talk with them about what may be bothering them. Teenagers may act out in different ways by hanging out with new friends, drinking, doing drugs, or cutting themselves with razors. These are all signs something is wrong and that they need help.

Understanding the causes of depression is important, but what is even more important is knowing what to do about it. Sadly, medications for depression often do not work well in children and teens and may make things worse. If you suspect that your child is struggling with depression, take them to see someone as soon as you can. You may find that setting them up with someone to talk to and talking to them yourself can help turn things around. Sometimes, changes need to be made, and it will be important for you to be open to making them no matter what.