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Anxiety and Depression in Young Children: How to Treat?
I have a beautiful, smart, funny and creative granddaughter who is 8 years old. From early on, we realized that something was not quite right.
My daughter took her daughter for therapy. Once therapist actually asked her not to come back because my granddaughter would not cooperate. She finally did find someone and she continues to work with her. There is no doubt that my granddaughter likes to do her own thing, in her own time, in her own way, as well as being the 'boss'.
My daughter has been concerned that her daughter might have anxiety and depression. She is an only child so she is right out there! To my surprise and pride, she made an appointment to my granddaughter to get evaluated. I have an (adopted) nephew who showed many of the same symptoms as a young boy. His mother was told that she should have him evaluated, but she didn't. By the time he became a teen, his behaviors escalated and has been hospitalized a couple of times. He is now in his mid-20s and lives at home, cannot work a full time job and suffers from severe anxiety. In addition, he is on the spectrum. Seeing all this play out has worried my daughter into action.
This week was the first appointment with the psychiatrist. She isn't putting it down officially yet, but she thinks my granddaughter suffers from anxiety and depression. You should know that my father, me, my son, my daughter and her husband (the father), all suffer from anxiety and depression. Given the strong family history, the doctor suggest that medication, along with therapy would be beneficial. The suggested med is Zoloft.
I've done my research and everything she is recommending sounds right. Here is my concern regarding medication...as I stated, she is VERY smart, creative and funny. I worry she will lose these fantastic traits. I am a former educator who has seen children on meds for ADD, ADHD, on the spectrum along with anxiety and/or depression. Many of these children become bland.
Does anyone have experience with this medication? If so, have you seen changes in the child?
Thank you,
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
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I am the grandfather of a 12, almost 13 year old female with mosaic turner, AD. She has a normal sister who has grown up with her olde sister always in the forefront of attention.
HD Very smart for the staticics, good in math. Plays the viola. She was from 4 interested in body parts functions etc. She know she can't have children and all that goes with that. She has had all sorts of meds, injecting herself for years with growth hormone, lots of baggage for a 12 year old.
She is a loner and in my opinion very depressed. Certain meds have made her have very dark thoughts. What she is on now seems to be the best mix. She has a therapist. She absolutely hates school. She tells me she sits alone at lunch.
I don't know how to fix this depression. My thoughts are trying to convince her parents to let me homeschool her as they work. They have aged with concern over this child.
Any advice?
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1 Reaction@mkosinski Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! It's very commendable of you to be concerned with the well-being of your granddaughter, and reaching for some solutions.
I imagine at the age she is now, there are a lot of factors that could disrupt her, aside from the mosaic Turner syndrome. Social settings, school, natural hormonal changes and all that those entail certainly can be factors. Personally, I can recall going through those "dark times", also. Add onto that a difference in how she might look or act, and that can be a lot of pressure.
What have her parents said about you homeschooling her? And, is she agreeable to homeschooling? Perhaps her therapist may have some insight if this would be beneficial. Has your granddaughter expressed what it is about school she hates? Not challenging enough? Too much emphasis on social instead of learning? She sounds like she is pretty smart, and that could be a cause of feeling like she doesn't fit in, if her peers are more focused on social aspects of school. Perhaps giving her more challenge to learn things, while keeping her in school for the opportunities there?
Ginger
Hi
We have great schools but she complains that teachers are slave drivers. She has no filter which can get herself in trouble calling out, and she can get locked into repeating and fixating on something in front of her. I think this can isolate her. Her mother thinks she just has no need for others and social interaction with a belief that the kids do recognize and like her. I see her with the ability to talk to anyone, but great mood swings. I pick her up after school each day. She is exhausted and seems depressed. She will say "I can't take it any more. Human beings are the worst thing on the planet. I''m no good. I have to go over and over how much she means. If I can get her to a park for an hour and just sit, she can open up. It blows me away when she will say "I'm Happy". I try to explain how happiness is of many kinds but she always complains that I am lecturing.
This makes my emotions go up an down. I just worry