10 yr

[happymama1817]

Hi all,
My son who is 10 yrs old is showing sign of depression and anxiety. He was so nervous yesterday he kept fidgeting with his hands and he had a lot of noticable tics. He is in therapy (only 2 sessions so far) but not on meds. I am bipolar myself and very afraid he is going down that path. Mornings can be absolute hell when he is depressed as he will say he is sick and I can see in his eyes that he is petrified and so anxious. I'm considering home schooling but am afraid that will just allow him to sink further down. Your thought and opinions would be so appreciated by me. I love him so much and hate to see him like this but dont know what to do.  

I want to know how young all of you started noticing your depression? I have had people tell me he's too young for this and just tyring to get attention which makes me so mad and sad for him, but I can tell when the fear, depression and anxiety are real.

[meniere135]

I remember reading awhile ago about bipolar and eating a low glycemic diet - a diet low in sugar and white flours, etc.  Basically, you eat a diet high in vegetables, fruits, protein and fat and low on the carbs.  This diet helps keep the blood sugar evened out.
Gluten is a problem for many people and is an inflammatory food and can play around with your blood sugar and can keep people from absorbing many nutrients needed to keep healthy brain chemistry along with many other things.  My middle daughter just started the gluten free diet last week - WHAT A DIFFERENCE!  Her mood swings stopped.  Her constant craving for food stopped.  She's much happier.  Her anxiety seems to be decreasing each day - she's had that since she was little (she's now 14).  She told me the other day she has energy all day long now.   She never had that before.

Food intolerances (like milk, gluten) and food allergies can play around with blood sugar and drain the body of nutrients as it tries to handle the food that is a problem.

Here is a site that talks about omega-3's and magnesium and diet:

http://www.foodforthebrain.org/content.asp?id_Content=1713

I hope someone is able to help you.  Always keep reading!!  And never underestimate good nutrition.  Genetics are usually involved, but environment can set them off.  Hang in there!

[happymama1817]

I'm intrigued by your recommendation of a gluten free diet. Can you tell me what I might expect by trying it? Has it been effective in reducing bipolar or depression? That would be sooo great. I am currently starting a flour free diet but now will consider going to gluten free all together. I know that is a really hard diet to follow but taking medication for your whole life is hard, too. I keep telling my own pyschiatrist that I would prefer to tame my bipolar using diet and exercise. Thanks for the tips.

To ILADVOCATE - we have an appt with his therapist next week. Funny you should mention bullying because right before xmas break he broke down and told me that in October the new pe teacher called him a big mouth. He had been keeping this in for 2 months and had been not wanting to go to school on Mondays (which is when pe is)
. He was using every excuse he could find, tummy ache, trouble with friends, eyes hurt etc. We met with the principal, his teacher and the pe teacher and he said he felt better. But then again this past Sunday he got very nervous again. But Monday was fine, he made it through ok.

[meniere135]

Maybe look into starting your son on a gluten free diet (of course, while continuing therapy).  Gluten is found in wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats.  Some people lack the enzymes to break down the protein in these foods.  If the body can't digest a food, it can cause a lot of problems, including your son's problems.  For some people, it will cure the problem...for others, it might help make things better.  Maybe you could try the diet yourself and see if any of your symptoms improve over time.  Sometimes, other foods need to be avoided, like milk products, corn, eggs, etc.  So many people go through life working with medications, when the problem might be coming from the foods they cannot tolerate or are allergic to.  Food intolerances run in families.  The diet must be followed 100% to be effective - one little cheat can mess up the results.  Hope this helps.

[ILADVOCATE]

Its not that common for depression to occur that early but it can happen. I have schizoaffective disorder and my mother has bipolar and for both of us this the onset occurred at puberty which is more common. If he has tics was the potential of Tourrette's Syndrome discussed with the therapist as that can occur at an earlier age? The best thing to do would be to call all this concerns to the attention of the therapist and ask if he needs a further referral and then follow up from there. Also there may be concerns at school such as bullying which he is not discussing with you so it would be essential to discuss this with the school guidance counselor.