Nearly everyone people, children as well as adults, feel low or `depressed' occasionally. Feeling sad is a normal reaction to experiences that are traumatic or offensive. When these feelings go on and on, or control and get in the way with your whole life, it can become an illness. This illness is called `depression'. Depression probably affects one in every 200 children under 12 years old and two to three in every 100 teenagers. Childhood and teen depression is a reality. This is one of the most alarming facts to come from all the research; depression is affecting younger and younger people. Twenty years ago depression in children was almost unknown. Now the fastest rate of increase in depression is among young people. Yet again, this backs up the fact that most depression is not caused by chemical imbalances, whether in teenagers or adults. ( EDWARDS, 2004)
Antidepressants are used to treat restrained to rigorous depressive illnesses. They are also used to aid the symptoms of severe anxiety, panic attacks and obsessional problems. They may also be used to help people with chronic pain, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. One should not assume that because you have been prescribed an antidepressant that this means you are suffering from depression. If you are not clear about why you have been given them, then one must consult their respective doctor. All medications have side effects, and sometimes a change in dosage, brand or type of medication will allow for the usefulness of the medication while reducing the side effects. One problem with medications is that they are most often prescribed for young children, who usually will not be able to accurately report side effects. This is one of the concerns about prescribing any medications for children.
