Many children are diagnosed with depression after learning they have ADHD. Here’s how to lift up your child.
I can’t control myselfResearch shows that if a person views himself negatively, he is at high risk for becoming depressed. Being diagnosed with ADHD often makes a child or adult feel like there is something intrinsically wrong with their brain , that it impacts all areas of their life , and that the disorder will not go away. In short, an ADHD diagnosis is a formula for developing depression.
For Jonathan, being diagnosed with ADHD became part of his identity. He saw himself as defective. Dwelling on what was wrong with him caused him to be depressed. When he sat down to do his homework, he told himself, “I can’t do this; I have ADHD.” Because behavior and emotions are shaped so powerfully by expectations, and because the label of ADHD sets up strong negative expectations, the label itself can create symptoms of depression.
are creativity, emotional sensitivity, interpersonal intuition, exuberance, and feeling connected to nature. There are other possible gifts, including capacity to lead, being strong-willed, and being inner-directed. Help your child identify his gifts and ask him to focus on them to build motivation and confidence.to serve as a corrective to impulsivity and, in some cases, hyperactivity. Accept your child’s emotions, and teach him to recognize and label them.
. Because research has found elevated rates of suicide attempts in children and teens treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors , children should be closely monitored while taking these types of medication.