Maternal Depression Can Lead to Depression in Children

Maternal depression can be a predictor of depression and anxiety in preschool children, according to a study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. It can cause children to have lower levels of self-esteem, difficulty with emotional regulation and more aggressive behavior.

While depression in women can develop at any point during a woman’s life, about 80 percent of women experience postpartum depression following childbirth. Women who are most at risk for developing postpartum depression are women who have a family or personal history of depression, a history of substance abuse, experienced recent stressful life events, or had complications during pregnancy and childbirth. 

Symptoms of Maternal Depression

If you have a family history of depression, a problem with substance abuse or other characteristics that put you at risk for developing depression, you should be aware of the following signs of depression:
•    A persistent feeling of hopelessness and despair
•    Anxiety
•    Crying and sadness
•    Loss of appetite or overeating
•    A general inability to cope
•    Inability to sleep or sleeping excessively
•    Fears of harming self or child

Treatment for Depression

If you believe you are experiencing any of the signs of depression, and they have lasted for more than two weeks, it may be time to seek treatment for the mood disorder. Overcoming the symptoms of depression is not easy to do on your own, especially if you are also caring for children. For that reason, it is best to find professional treatment for depression. 

Take some time to find a therapist who specializes in mood disorders or a residential treatment center for depression. Through therapy, you will be able to address the root of your depression and learn healthy coping strategies that will allow you to better manage those situations that may have led to your depression. 

Most treatment for depression also involves the use of anti-depressants, which are effective at minimizing the symptoms of depression. Anti-depressants should only be taken under supervision of a depression treatment professional.

Recognizing Depression in Your Child

If left untreated, your depression may have an effect on your child’s behaviors. If your child is exhibiting any of the following behaviors, your child may also need to get some type of treatment for depression:
•    Difficulty concentrating
•    Loss of energy
•    Change in appetite
•    Loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy
•    Aggressive behavior
•    Constantly sad or irritable 

Ignoring these symptoms can lead to long-term depression or anxiety that your child will likely have to deal with in adulthood. 

Treating your own maternal depression can reduce or eliminate a child’s symptoms of depression, anxiety and disruptive behaviors. If you have been struggling with depression, get help for the mood disorder to reduce the chance that your children will spend the rest of their lives struggling with it themselves.