As a parent it can be difficult to know when your child is suffering from depression – after all, they are just kids!
However, there are signs you can look out for that might suggest they are struggling with something more serious than just typical childhood angst.
If you want more resources concerning teenage/childhood depression feel free to connect with us to find the right child therapist in Cincinnati.
What is masked depression?
Masked depression is a term that was actually used back in the 70’s and 80’s, and has mostly been retired since then. However, it has come back into use recently when describing how children may be feeling, since children are especially good at hiding symptoms that may indicate depression. Masked depression, or smiling depression, is essentially the condition wherein a person (or teenager/child in this instance), is experiencing the physical symptoms of depression but they are not showing /feeling the psychological and/or mood symptoms that come along with depression. Some children with depression have been known to walk around smiling, and appearing to be having fun and enjoying themselves. Hence the term, “masked depression”.
A child or teenager who's struggling with depression may:
Have changes in eating habits (e.g., binge eating)
Have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
Lose interest in things they used to enjoy doing (e.g., sports)
An unexplained decrease in grades
Isolating themselves from friends and family
Finding it harder to have open conversations with your child
All this may occur while your child may seem like their normal self.
How to know if your teenager might be suffering from masked depression?
Depression in children, and teenagers in particular can be hard to spot. Their symptoms are very different from adults and they normally try to hide their feelings from their parents, possibly out of fear or shame. Parents need to be aware of the signs that their child might be suffering from masked depression.
Teenagers may also become defensive toward their parents if their parents did question them as to whether or not they may be feeling depressed.
Since masked depression can be somewhat tricky to notice with the lack of psychological mood changes, it’s possible that the teenager/child doesn’t even realize they are experiencing this type of depression.
Why it’s important to be looking for masked depression in young people
Depression is a serious illness that affects the body and mind. The signs of depression can be subtle, but they are often present in young people who are experiencing it. Research has shown that approximately 13% of teens in the US struggled with depression, and that number has increased exponentially during Covid. It’s important to be on the lookout for depression in our children as it can lead to other mental health issues and physical health problems if left unchecked.
One of the biggest ways we can help a child improve their mood and reduce feelings of depression is through talking about what they are going through. Very simply, feelings of depression thrive on secrecy, shame, and trying to let others know what we are going through. Some have even suggested that the core of depression may be a repression of feelings, especially anger. With this in mind, it’s critical that parents be able to be on the lookout for a change in mood and behavior of their child.
It's important for us as parents not only because of this increased risk factor but also because many of our children will experience some form of adversity during their lives—and without proper support systems and coping mechanisms in place, before an event occurs, those events could lead them down an unhealthy and lonely path.
Conclusion
It’s never too late to start helping your children develop healthy habits.
Even if you aren’t worried or have any suspicions that your child might be suffering from masked depression, you should take the time to sit down and talk with your child or teenager about depression in general so that they know and understand you love them and will always be available to them if they need your support and help if they ever do struggle with any type of depression.
Contact us if you need teen therapy in Cincinnati or more parenting resources to help with your child’s mental health needs.