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5 Signs You Grew Up As A Depressed Child

It is difficult to see the signs of depression in children, and surely no one saw them when we were growing up

By Mindsmatter.Published 4 years ago 3 min read
5 Signs You Grew Up As A Depressed Child
Photo by Joseph Gonzalez on Unsplash

Mental illnesses are related to adults, we rarely speak of anxiety or depression in children.

Our childhood and adolescence are critical years in our psychological development. The things we live in those stages will shape us and define the type of adult we will be. That is why identifying signs of mental health problems is vital.

The problem is that the signs of depression in children and adolescents are different in adults. Therefore, they usually go unnoticed.

If you are Millennial or Gen X, surely your parents didn't have the tools to recognize the signs if you grew up with depression. Before there was not so much visibility on this issue.

If any or more of the following apply to you, you may have grown up a depressed child.

1. You were a "problem child"

The belief that as we grow up we become rebellious and defiant is normal. It is a characteristic of adolescence, as we discover who we are, we don't want to feel imprisoned or obligated.

However, a problem attitude can be an internal problem manifesting itself.

Talking back, being rude, going against the rules can be a depressed child's way of expressing that they are not feeling well. This behavior is confused with simple "rebellion" typical of young people and is allowed to pass.

2. You had bad eating and sleeping habits

We all liked staying up late and hated bedtime. Also, we preferred to have pop-tarts for dinner instead of a casserole.

Having very changeable sleeping and eating habits is a sign that something is going on inside our heads.

Sometimes we didn't stop eating or sleeping because we wanted to, but because we didn't have the motivation or energy to do so.

3. You often felt unmotivated

If you lost total interest in everyday things, like bathing, grooming, going to school, or hanging out with friends, you were probably depressed.

A young person with depression problems often has little interest in typical tasks. The simplest chores turn into very complicated things. All of this happens because we just don't feel the energy or motivation to do it.

4. You gave up your hobbies easily

Some of us had hobbies growing up. Let's say you were on the soccer team, or you were a cheerleader, or you played an instrument.

Lack of motivation causes teens and children to give up even the activities they love to do.

Completely losing the desire or interest in hobbies is undoubtedly a sign of depression. Parents usually mistake this behavior as laziness or lack of conviction.

5. You had feelings of hopelessness

Everyone believes that when you are young you don't care about anything. That's a lie, we care about many things.

However, faced with a chemical imbalance in our brain, we feel hopeless. We are not interested in the future or what may happen to us.

You usually asked, "what's the point?" You didn't see the point of going to school or spending time with your family, or even having friends.

A child or teenager with depression has a hard time finding a reason to do things.

Did any of these signs remind you of your childhood? You probably had some mint health problems growing up and no one was able to identify it in time.

Do not despair, it is not an eternal curse. You are an adult aware of the importance of mental health and you have the tools to work on yourself.

Always go to a professional when you feel that something is wrong.

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About the Creator

Mindsmatter.

Mindsmatter is written by Bola Kwame, Jack Graves and Emma Buryd.

De-stigmatizing mental illness one day at a time.

Our socials: https://linktr.ee/Mindsmatter

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