Monitoring Your Child's Moods After Divorce

Because sadness and depression are common for children following divorce, the challenge that arises is for parents to distinguish between normal sadness and clinical depression. In short, how can parents know when to seek help for their child?

To answer this question, parents need to carefully consider three issues: the severity of the symptoms, the duration of sadness or depression, and the environment in which the child is living. Considering first the severity of symptoms, it’s pertinent to consider the specific changes that children may experience when they are depressed.

Although some of these symptoms may be present, not all may be noticeable or witnessed by parents. Symptoms of depression for children and adolescents can include: sleep problems, poor concentration, difficulty in school (poor grades), drug or alcohol use, changes in eating habits (e.g., consuming more food than usual or eating less), self-injurious behavior and anxiety. If these symptoms are present and appear to become worse over time, parents may need to seek outside help for their child.

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