![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lynn970 on August 22, 2005, at 22:31:41
In reply to SLS that was very informative., posted by lynn970 on August 20, 2005, at 13:23:21
I am afraid that I shouldn't have said that my 5 year shows symptoms of depression. I don't know if she does. Her feelings get hurt so easy. I pray that she does not inherit a chemical imbalance from me.
Posted by Empathy on August 22, 2005, at 22:31:41
In reply to Re: SLS that was very informative., posted by lynn970 on August 20, 2005, at 13:26:58
My children were treated for depression...
Please don't feel like you shouldn't have thought it out loud about your daughter... she may or may not - if she did inherit a depressive tendency there is nothing so awful about that, really is it any different than inheriting diabetes? It can be a genetic thing and thankfully we live in a more enlightened era that realizes that.
I think it is very special that you are so sensitive to your child and her needs. Wouldn't it be cool if all parents were like that?
Posted by lynn970 on August 22, 2005, at 22:31:41
In reply to Re: SLS that was very informative., posted by Empathy on August 20, 2005, at 13:35:40
That was sweet of you to encourage me. I just don't want my child or anyone else for that matter to have to go through depression or anxiety.
My little girl is afraid to sleep by herself, she does not like to be in a room by herself even if it is daylight and all the lights are on.Do you know if this is normal behavior for a 5 year old?
Posted by Empathy on August 22, 2005, at 22:31:41
In reply to Emphathy, that was so sweet., posted by lynn970 on August 20, 2005, at 13:49:32
We all need encouragement! We are all in this together!!! :)
Some children are just very, very sensitive.
Having a sensitive nature doesn't necessarily mean that she will have to take meds for it. I have known people who had children that had similar issues and they simply out grew it.
Being 5 is a very "transitional" age, and this could just be a manifestation of seperation anxiety. As long as you accept it without anger and yet not draw much attention to the situation, it will likely pass. If parents get angry or give a lot of attention or energy to a "quirk" that a child displays - they sometimes hang on to it - almost subconsiously.
Posted by lynn970 on August 22, 2005, at 22:31:41
In reply to For Lynn, posted by Empathy on August 20, 2005, at 14:23:18
Thanks for your response. I don't think that I made a big deal about it to my child. At least I hope not. I am just kind of worried about her. I will take your advice though. your advice makes a lot of sense.
Posted by SLS on August 22, 2005, at 22:31:42
In reply to Re: SLS that was very informative., posted by lynn970 on August 20, 2005, at 13:26:58
> I am afraid that I shouldn't have said that my 5 year shows symptoms of depression. I don't know if she does. Her feelings get hurt so easy. I pray that she does not inherit a chemical imbalance from me.
Biological depression seems to be the product of a complex interaction of multiple-gene vulnerabilities plus environmental stressors. One may be born with much of the predisposing genetics but may never display depression if the stressors are managed during the critical periods of growth of which you have quite a bit of control. You sound like an excellent parent who will be capable of doing this on your child's behalf.
If depression does present at such a young age, I think psychotherapy should be tried first. The depressive biology still has not had time to sink in and stick. The brain remains flexible enough that to reduce the psychosocial stress that a child is subject to might be enough to smooth out the biology and allow things to settle into normal functioning. It is a difficult decision to decide when intervention with medication is indicated. Bipolar disorder probably should be treated medically as soon as it is recognized, especially if the first episode is mania.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on August 22, 2005, at 22:31:42
In reply to Re: SLS that was very informative. » lynn970, posted by SLS on August 20, 2005, at 20:43:47
Last night was a bad night for me. So I posted a Thread on the writing Board. No one can disagree with me there and I can't be blocked for how I feel. If only all this were known long ago I might not have felt the way i do. If you have time take a look at it it's entitled Guilty, Guilty, Guilty. A child hopefully wouldn't be made to feel this way today. fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on August 23, 2005, at 11:07:20
In reply to Re: SLS that was very informative., posted by lynn970 on August 20, 2005, at 13:26:58
I often worry that I worry about my son too much. He inherited my sensitivity and in addition has a healthy dose of guilt and perfectionism. But when I think about it, I wouldn't have him any other way. His thoughtfulness and precocious sense of right and wrong stem from the very qualities that will cause him pain. How can I ever wish he was anything other than the wonderful child I love so dearly?
I do what I can to stabilize the environmental factors. He's been seeing a play therapist who has been wonderful for him. He's much much better than he was in tolerating things. Not all therapists are equal in this. The first one that was recommended to us never got to see him a second time. I've also got him in a school that goes all the way through high school, and that is very child focussed and a perfect fit for my sensitive son. I'll do almost anything to keep him there.
It's important to recognize your daughter's temperament so that you can best serve her needs. And I understand that you don't want her to feel pain. Most parents would far rather be hurt themselves tenfold than to see their child hurting. But if you think on it, I'll bet many of the things you love best about her spring from the same well as the things you worry about.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Parents | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.