Why are SO many (children) being diagnosed with things like depression and ADHD at such an early age?

Question

And is the answer really medication?

Answer 1

More children are being diagnosed because research has begun to show that mental illnesses often do develop earlier than previously though and as with most things, early intervention is very important. For example, for a very long time it was believed that children did not suffer from depression, but that is not the fact of it. The thing is, symptoms in children often look different than symptoms in adults.
Sometimes the answer is medication. Sometimes it makes a world of difference in a persons life. I do think that there seems to be a trend towards ADHD diagnosis and meds being given out a bit too quickly with kids. This concerns me for a couple of reasons. First of all these are serious medications and should not be used as a first resort.
And by overusing the diagnosis and medications, it is paradoxically creating an environment/ attitude of less acceptance of these kind of problems instead of more acceptance. It's making it harder for people to understand the reality and severity of them.
However, for those who really need it, the benefits of medication are tremendous. I'm 30 now and have had psych issues for as far back as I can remember. They were not quick to put me on meds and I wish frequently that they had tried it much, much sooner. I didn't try any until I had already been in therapy 11 years, with no success whatsoever. My childhood and entire life thereafter could have potentially been very, very different if I had been properly treated early on.
There is an incredible amount of suffering for a person with mental illness, child or adult.
When a child truly has one or more psychiatric issues, we are not talking about children who are just spoiled or have parents lacking parenting skills or who are just acting out as children do. For any parent of a child with these problems, it is extremely clear that something is amiss. The severity and intensity make it impossible not to see. It is incredibly important that such parents educate themselves and understand what it is they are dealing with (with disorders and medications.)

Answer 2

You should waste no time in getting your son to a qualified mental health professional, preferably a child psychologist who can do a battery of tests to determine if your son is actually ADHD, bi-polar and dyslexic. There are a whole new generation of ADHD meds and Ritalin is actually used much less today than many other new drugs available. At his age, he will probably balk at seeing a counselor, but this should be made a priority. He needs a safe person to talk to, and while he may speak to you about some things, he probably won't open up about others. If he has been through a lot with his father, he probably feels conflicted about him. He continues to love him, while feeling bad, mad, sad or hate toward him, depending on what went on. I would start with the PCP and get a referral and go from there. God bless.

Answer 3

Good question. Is it that the science has gotten better, or that it's more convenient for teachers to dope the kids, or that the change in the family structure is having an impact on kid's emotional lives, or that society is a lot more overwhelming than those days back on the farm without so much noise, stress, pollution, and instant everything???? The answer's probably a little of all of these.

Sometimes, yes, the answer is definitely meds.

Other times (more often than not in my opinion) the better solution is a lot more attention, added free space to roam/play/be creative, and less structure/pressure to perform are the answers. Depends on the kid and the environment in which s/he lives.

Answer 4

I bet if you should them your picture you'd get their attention.

i think it has alto to do with the way they are raised, I bet if the parents spent a little more time with the their kid it would make a world of difference. And by no means am i trying to say that parents with kids that suffer from ADHD are bad parents but some kids require more attention than they get.

On meds........Ii think if you could take them for a limited period of time to cure you great but if they are life long meds, no deal.

Very nice picture by the way. You certainly got my attention!

Answer 5

Partly it is because of better public awareness. Partly because of improved diagnostic techniques. Partly because parents no longer discipline their children properly and all bad behavior must have a cause (other than the parents). And last but not least, it seems to be in vogue to have a child (or be a child) on some type of behavioral or mood altering drug and/or in some type of therapy. (Isn't it great to be cool in that way?)

Sincerely,
Terry
E-mail: [e-mail]

Visit "Our Bipolar World" my personal website at:
http://www.ourbipolarworld.com/

Answer 6

no idont believe that some kids try to get attention and some are just happy and treat really hyper but i do not believe taht medecine is the answer i believe that you can spend time with your kids explain talk to them and work with them most of it is teachers that dont want to do there job of getting on to children or have patience every young child is hyper at one point and the in my day it was alot of hyper activity but medecine and alot of kids now are misdiagnois they are getting in trouble for acting like kids they want them to be adult s i do not believe in that at all.

Answer 7

i was diagnosed with depression early on. and for me medication hasnt worked but neither has anything else.

Answer 8

ADHD is very OVER diagnosed or so my doctor said

Answer 9

I believe it is society's way of coping out on our youth.much easier for us (adults) to label these children than to acknowledge that we are to lazy and pre occupied to come together and raise them.We allow people to dictate to us that fear of parents is a crime, fear of god is bad ,but sex ,drugs alcohol,cursing is glamorous.And have to "think" what is wrong with our children???

Answer 10

if you ask me, it's because people are over-reacting, and no, i don't think medication is the answer. it just causes more problems.