I Think My 9 Year Old Is Depressed?

you might want to find a support group for her, the kind that is specifically for children, with these medical issues.
That might help her to see other kids that are like her... thus, making her feel better perhaps. Try asking your local hospital if they know any support groups for her, or do a Google search of it in your area.

Also her age... 9 years old is nowadays considered to be pre-puberty and in fact, some girls this age start puberty at this age... the bodily changes, hormones, mood changes etc.

Does your daughter have any friends?
Or perhaps, nurture any hobbies or interests she has... and if so, maybe she can join a club that does these activities.
Or even a reading group club? Since she seems to like reading. Thereby, assimilating her with people and things that already are in her interest area.

Ultimately, you'd want to ask your Pediatrician... instead of guessing at it and what could be wrong with her.... and/or any "medications" or homeopathic remedies that could help her.

Its most probably a COMBINATION of things that is affecting her: her cerebral palsy/seizures, her sensory issues, her age and it's biological changes, her social life, her sense of being and a child's development of emotions at each age juncture... her sense of self...
With kids, it is often a combination of things that compound how they feel...

Also, see if there is anything wrong or any problems she is encountering at school? With her friends? What do her teachers say? Any problems there? Find out, or see what they suggest.

All the best, just some ideas,
Susan

Hi,

We went through a similar experience with my daughter, also age 9, who has Tourette Syndrome. She went through an isolation period where she didn't want to be around people and spent way too much time by herself at school and at home.

First, is she on any medicine for her seizuers or CP that could be causing any of these symptoms? It's not uncommon for meds to make kids lathargic, withdrawn and just feel down in general. We adjusted the time of day we gave my daughter her meds and it helps. When we are late for whatever reason, it really throws her off.

Second, find some other children with CP or seizure disorders that she can have play dates with. Look for support groups or local chapters/organizations. This helps so much so kids don't feel they are the only one with these disorders. Kids need to feel part of a group. She may not always want to talk to you about her feelings-kids sometimes feel like their problems are a burden to paretns. If she has some girls she can relate to, it will help.
My daughter gets together with another girl with TS every so often and they compare notes, so to speak, about their condition. This is a big relief for my daughter to know she is not alone. Plus, it will help you to talk with other parents.

Look for books she can read about her condition. The more knowledge she has, the better she can cope.

I'd also recommend getting her in Girl Scouts if she isn't. It is a great program that focus' on girls being their best and recognizing individual strengths and ideas while emphasizing teamwork, respect and friendship.

Another thing, which I was doing, was constantly asking her about her tics, school, any teasing, etc. I wouldn't leave her alone about it and caused her even more stress. She finally said something to my husband about how it bugged her when i kept after her. So try not to nag too much. I know it is hard when you want to help. My "helping" and wanting to talk about it was just making things worse.

How are things at school? My daughter was tired of classmates asking "why do you do that?" for her various tics and luckily there was no teasing. Classmates often make fun of the unknown out of fear and lack of understanding or knowledge.
She asked if I would come speak to her class to educate them about TS. I went in one afternoon and gave the kids a little education about tourette's. I talked about the disorder-how she got it, what it entails (sypmtoms and meds), emphasized how it is not contagious, not life threatening, and out of her control. She has book, written by a child with TS, that I read to the class, then opened up the floor for a Q & A.
The next day, my daughter said she had so many kids come up to her and related all the "weird" things they do too. It seemed to be a big weight off of her shoulders. Her playground social life greatly improved after that and she's had a great school year.

I hope some of these ideas help out. I know how heartbreaking it is to see our children hurting and not be able to "fix" it. But us mommas can make it a little easier. Good luck.

HI J.

I would second your "diagnosis" based on what you're telling us. All of the symptoms would fit, but that doesn't mean that that is what it is.... could also be a vitamin deficiency or it could be a puberty thing. She's at the age now that hormones are changing and we know that that affects our mood.

I always felt very different than people my own age and I would often retreat in to a world of solitude. I was raised by my grandparents and so I always felt out of place. I was embarrassed of my family and what my life was... I was also very overweight and that made a huge difference (no pun intended) in how i interacted with the kids in my class. Could she be struggling with her differences?

I'm not big on medicating children because their little bodies are going through so many changes as it is. However, you might want to look in to a good multivitamin and an extra b complex. B vitamins are associated with mood.

Before I would start medicating, I would try to find the underlying cause for the suspected depression.

Does she have any friends at school? Is she friendless? Do other children her age shun her because of her medical issues?

Is she being bullied? Made to feel bad by things said to her by other children? THat would get ANYBODY down, especially when you are little and don't know how to handle it.

My 9 yr old has said of a building at school where children seek IEP? that "oh, I don't want to go into that building! That's where all the "weird" kids go!"

Yet, he has a friend with IEP issues that he plays great with because they bonded over playdates.

There is a new boy in his class (new to the school in Sept) with mental delays and it seems the children in his class think he's weird and perhaps they avoid him. I know my son hasn't bonded with him.

Would it be possible for you to visit her at lunch (bring her a special lunch and bring your own) and quietly observe interactions. Do you volunteer in the classroom? Walk her to class? That might give you a better view of the social scene.

I know when my son comes home upset, he wants to tune out and turn on the TV. I discourage that and I try to talk to him and eventually, he'll let it all out (cry and express himself) and that's what needs to happen. The emotions needs to be expressed, let out, because otherwise they stay inside.

We don't own a video console. TV is limited. I don't want my kids to be couch potatoes. Discourage the multi-media so she can find her own passions.

She might need a real hobby (does she like art)?

J.,

From reading your post, I immediately think she may not be getting the proper nutrition. She is in feeding therapy, lacks energy, and appears to be depressed. Is she getting enough of her B's? I am not expert, but I know wrong or lack of foods can cause a lot of problems.