10 yr old ds seems depressed

[bluesky]

DS hasn't been happy for a long time and I'm now suspecting that it's quite deep.

He is always sad, very tearful, has awful sleeps, can't find the happiness in things, doesn't enjoy school, he has friends and can do the lessons but he just isn't happy.

When really he should be happy, school is fine, homelife is happy, he can't be specific, he is just sad.

Anyone any experience of depressed children? I am going to see our Dr tomorrow on my own to talk about it, but just wanted some mumsnet help and support please!! It is very hard and sad for me as his mum!

I'm sorry about your ds, I hope the doc can help, I'm sorry I don't know anything about depression in children but hopefully someone on here can give you advice.
best wishes for you.

Hi Bluesky, sorry to hear about your DS. Is there a problem at school such as bullying or do you know of anything that has happened to make him feel like this?

I have no experience of having a child with depression, but for a number of reasons I was a depressed child, with parents who didn't have the sensitivity to take it seriously. Depression doesn't have to have a cause; my home life wasn't a happy one for a number of reasons and that was the cause of mine, but for many people, children included, there isn't an obvious trigger.

I know it's hard for you as a mother, but having a mother like you, who has picked up on the problem, is sensitive to his needs, and willing to try and help him, is really important, and I'm glad for him that you have been able to spot his depression. Do you think that he would be able to open up about it to you, maybe even go to see the GP with you tomorrow?

I was a depressed child too, not that anyone could have cared less - your son is lucky you are so aware of his emotions. I think as long as you are sure it isn't dietary/lack of sleep/anything obviously organic, counselling would be the best way forward, probably via the GP. I hope you find some help, it must be very worrying. As WWB says, there isn't always an obvious trigger.

Thanks everyone. I don't think there has been an obvious trigger. He has always been a worrier, sensitive etc, and I think maybe life has just become too much.

I've been looking at some child depression websites, and he seems to tick so many of the boxes.

If you ask him why is he sad, why is he crying, why does he feel sick, he knows there is no reason, he just feels like that. He is frustrated that he can't get to sleep and then frustrated that he wakes up so early.

Counselling would be good, but he doesnt really talk..... doesnt bode well does it?!!

Thanks for the help, I have been feeling really low with this today.

Counsellors are used to helping people who don't find it easy to talk - if you can get him to see one, that's more than half the battle!!

There are also lots of purely medical things that could be causing it, but I can't list them because I'm not an expert. Some ideas though: hormonal imbalances, underactive thyroid, anaemia... there are lots of very treatable conditions which can cause tiredness, low mood and even full-blown depression. I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it.

thanks wigwambam, he is a very pale soul, doesn't eat particularly well, so perhaps anaemia may have a part to play. Although he did have blood tests done last year and was OK on that.

Am just hoping I get a kind sympathetic Dr, and that I don't burst into tears!!

I mean thanks meanoldmummy for your last comment, I'm not with it today!

Don't worry if you do burst into tears, it would be totally understandable. Good luck