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Helping my 6 year old sons depression

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Posted 2/7/2018 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all. I don't want to make this too lengthy so I'll do my best. I used to be a regular around this site especially in the anxiety forum and chatrooms. Then I got married and had a beautiful son and only sporadically visit here ever since.

Well fast forward 6 years from having my son and he is already exhibiting a lot of depression signs and has phobias and anxiety. I'm not surprised as mine started around 5 Years of age. He has an intake appointment for play therapy in a week but I want to help him as much as I can in the meantime. If anyone has experience helping childhood depression please advise me.

He's highly intelligent and BORED all of the time. At home and at school. now he is losing all motivation for anything on top of being very anxious. I hate seeing my baby go through this and I NEED to help him as much as I can before his intake appointment.

I'm hoping with today's outlook and knowledge of childhood depression I can get him the help he needs and deserves that I didn't have available to me when I was his age and he can have a better adult life when it comes to managing these issues.

Thanks so much and much love
Paige
Posted 2/7/2018 9:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Paige,

Childhood depression is so sad. I wonder how it would feel to be so young and depressed. I guess you would know. I think it is unfair. But what can a person do?

Is he being challenged with the intelligence thing? Does he get bored at school? That can be bad. Maybe he could go to a school for gifted children???

My nephew got bored at school and began acting out which wasn't good.

I am sorry for what you are going though. I probably am not much help. Hopefully there will be others with more knowledge than myself about this matter.

Hang in there Paige. I hope that the play therapy helps him.

Hugs, Karen...

PS Welcome back...
Posted 2/7/2018 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
I've done a little reading on the Pineal gland while doing some research about my daughter's condition.

I found it very interesting that it has so much to do with depression and how exposure to sunlight can be of help.

You might want to check it out, especially if you live in the north where the winters are 'dark'.
Posted 2/8/2018 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
I know little about little kids, and less about their emotional life.

I would suggest talking with specialists about what you can do. Get a good book or three on the subject. But in this situation, I would think that less is more. He is little and too much 'helping' could have the opposite effect. Make him play more and study less.

But, again, I have no experience with these things. My SIL is a play therapist--and deals with some pretty seriously broken kids with no structure or effective parenting, with bad influences and seriously bad mental illnesses.
Posted 2/8/2018 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for the responses. The things he said to me last night were so heartbreaking BUT he will get into play therapy really soon. In the meantime his father and I are being very laid back and loving and his spirits were up by a significant amount today. I've also spent hours reading about ways to help so I can implement them.

Again thank you all for the responses it eases me to hear others sympathize.
Posted 2/24/2018 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Paige,

I'm sorry to hear of your trouble with you son.

I don't have a lot of experience with kids, but I would suggest you be as easy as possible to be around with him, and make sure you tell him you love him.

Hopefully a therapist will help with the rest.
Posted 2/27/2018 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
God i hadnt heard of a 6 year old getting depression god darn it thats so sad an unfair, childhood is meant to be the happiest time , my 5 yr old is so happy all the time i would hate that to change, i hope the play therapy helps him, your doing all you can to try to help him he is lucky to have good parents atleast
Posted 3/3/2018 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
sad your family will be in my prayers
Posted 3/8/2018 6:17 AM (GMT 0)
It really feels bad! My prayers are with your family. I think you understand him much better as you suffered from the same situation. Please consult a good therapist for him.
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