A depressed child does not make a sound and is often overlooked by others. They might believe they are “no good” or “can’t do anything right.” They may feel hopeless or guilty over and above what is normal. They may also appear sleepy or irritable and are more likely to be sick or complain of stomachaches or headaches. Although a depressed child typically does not cause too much trouble, their grades can be poor.
“I only got four hours of sleep last night because I was cramming for the exam today,” said Matt to one of his teenage friends. “Oh yeah, I just got a couple of hours of sleep as I had to study for two exams today,” replied his friend. This type of exchange is common as…
The mother clenches her teeth, lets out a sigh, and prepares for the homework battle with her son. It has become harder and harder to get him to complete the work he brings home from school. It was bad before because of her son’s difficulty paying attention but he now is so moody that it…
Several 4-year olds are playing in a daycare. All of a sudden, Stevie grabs a toy out of Johnny’s hand. Johnny screams, “That’s mine!” Stevie responds by swinging the toy and hitting Johnny in the arm. Johnny immediately bursts into tears as a daycare provider comes swooping into the fray. The daycare worker quickly figures…
“How many times have I told you to pay attention? You just seem to space out. No wonder you aren’t doing well in school,” said the mother to her son. The father chimed in, “I don’t understand why you can’t pay attention. You just need to try harder.” The child looks miserable and both parents…