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Is She Depressed?
I have a 12 year old niece and I think she may have depression.
She took this test ( http://depression.about.com/cs/diagnosis/l/bldepscreenquiz.htm ) and she "passed" with it saying she answered 8 out of 10 of the questions 'correctly' which apparently means she might have clinical depression.
I'm pretty scared here. I know I didn't provide much info but if you ask questions I'll answer them because I'm not sure what to say.
She took this test ( http://depression.about.com/cs/diagnosis/l/bldepscreenquiz.htm ) and she "passed" with it saying she answered 8 out of 10 of the questions 'correctly' which apparently means she might have clinical depression.
I'm pretty scared here. I know I didn't provide much info but if you ask questions I'll answer them because I'm not sure what to say.
Best Answer
How do you feel about bringing your niece to see a mental health professional for an evaluation? I think it'll be a good idea to seek help from a trained professional at this point. A child psychologist and/or psychiatrist can better determine if your niece is suffering from bi-polar, depression, or just simply grieving and having a difficult time coping with her dog's death. It could be all of the above or none of the above- that's why you need to seek professional help. And hey, even if it turns out that she has a mental disorder, that doesn't mean that she can't aspire to become a police officer. I know of a working RN who is schizophrenic. She is able to work as a nurse because she found the right treatment to keep her condition under control. Being diagnosed with a condition is not a death sentence. There's help out there. Help your niece find it.
I've taken several justice studies classes in which I learned of the process of becoming a police officer. The purpose of physical and mental health examinations is to determine if whether an individual is physically and mentally capable of performing the duties of a police office, as opposed to determining if an individual suffers from a physical or mental condition. If it turns out that your niece has bi-polar disorder, depression, or any other mental health issue, there are treatments. She would just need to find the right treatment to keep her condition under control. If her condition is kept treated, then I don't see her having a problem with "passing" a mental health screening. Like I said, I know of a R.N. who is able to work as a nurse even though she has schizophrenia because she is able to keep her condition under control. R.N.s also have to go through physical and mental examinations. I had to pass physical and mental examinations in order to start nursing school. Don't fall down a slippery slope with your thinking- having Bi-polar disorder/ depression does not mean that your niece is automatically disqualified from becoming a police officer.
Anyhow, you're completely focused on what could be wrong or go wrong as opposed to figuring out how to help your niece. You need to stop ruminating on potential problems. It's ineffective. Since her mother isn't ready to take your niece to get evaluated by a mental health professional, you can take steps to help your niece in the meantime. For instance, you can have your niece participate in arts and crafts projects, take her ice skating, or take her to the movies to keep her busy. She may not be in the mood to do anything, but it is important to keep her engaged in activities as well as to keep her socially active. Think about what you can do to help your niece cope with her loss.
Anyhow, you're completely focused on what could be wrong or go wrong as opposed to figuring out how to help your niece. You need to stop ruminating on potential problems. It's ineffective. Since her mother isn't ready to take your niece to get evaluated by a mental health professional, you can take steps to help your niece in the meantime. For instance, you can have your niece participate in arts and crafts projects, take her ice skating, or take her to the movies to keep her busy. She may not be in the mood to do anything, but it is important to keep her engaged in activities as well as to keep her socially active. Think about what you can do to help your niece cope with her loss.
I just wanted to point out that one requirement to be a police officer is having a mental examination. If she had bipolar disorder or depression, they would never let her be a police officer.
I have talked to her mom about seeing a mental health professional and she wants to wait for a little longer and see if Casey improves at all. If she doesn't improve, she's going to have her see a mental health professional.
The letter she wrote was very touching, she's a really bright girl. I'm just worried that it's been almost a year since both of her dogs died and she might still be grieving or suffering from depression because of it. She was really attatched to Sherman. She talked to him, cuddled with him, and basically treated him as if he was an actual person. He slept in her room sometimes and when he got older, she'd sleep on the floor with him downstairs because he couldn't walk up the stairs. She used to refer to Sherman as a "second dad" because she loved him more than her own dad. I think his death could have definitely brought on depression or long-lasting grieving.
I have talked to her mom about seeing a mental health professional and she wants to wait for a little longer and see if Casey improves at all. If she doesn't improve, she's going to have her see a mental health professional.
The letter she wrote was very touching, she's a really bright girl. I'm just worried that it's been almost a year since both of her dogs died and she might still be grieving or suffering from depression because of it. She was really attatched to Sherman. She talked to him, cuddled with him, and basically treated him as if he was an actual person. He slept in her room sometimes and when he got older, she'd sleep on the floor with him downstairs because he couldn't walk up the stairs. She used to refer to Sherman as a "second dad" because she loved him more than her own dad. I think his death could have definitely brought on depression or long-lasting grieving.
Also, I thought the letter by Casey was so beautiful yet heartbreaking. "I'd give anything to be with you again but I'm only a kid and I need to live my life." I think that line is the silver lining, she still has hope in life. That's definitely a good sign.
I have a lot of other posts about this same niece that would probably help you get a basic idea of how she is.
She's been this way ever since one of the dogs she had drowned in her family's pond. Her personality took a complete and utter U-Turn when her dog she grew up with had to be put to sleep because of kidney failure. She had that dog for everday of her life and if that dog and her father were hanging off of a cliff and she could only save one of them, she would've picked the dog. She adored that dog. She loved him so much.
Sophie (the dog that drowned) died back in February of 2010 and Sherman (the dog that was put to sleep) died on St. Patrick's Day of 2010.
I know she stays up until around 1-4a.m. every night for the past 2-3 months. I think she must be sleep deprived because she's always yawning, she has big bags under her eyes and under her eyes are really dark. She falls asleep during her classes in school and she says she gets horrible headaches when she starts to get somewhat tired during school. She said a few times she forgets to do her homework, so she puts it off until the morning to do. She said on mornings where she has homework to do, before she does it, she has a horrible headache for a while, like somebody is squeezing her head and won't let go. She said sometimes things look "out of focus" and blurry. She said "behind her eyes" hurts and throbs. If you offer her food, she's never hungry. When she does eat, she doesn't eat much. She eats random snacks though. She always skips breakfast, eats a few things at school lunch, and then eats some dinner.
Going back to the dogs, whenever she's angry or really upset about something, and she's crying, you can hear her say, "This is one of the times I'd need Sherman." and she talks about missing hugging him, and cuddling with him on the floor in front of the fireplace. She could barely stand watching the movie Marley & Me in the ending because she always thinks "I wonder if that's what Sherman felt like being put to sleep." and she starts bawling. She was at school when the dog was put to sleep, so she also says "I'd give anything to say goodbye to my old man.". She goes out to the woods where Sherman is buried, and once, I followed her and listened to her while she was out there. She was sitting next to the place where he was buried and picked weeds off the top. She just kind of knelt there and then started talking, saying things like, "Sherman I'd love to hear you bark one more time." and "I wish I could dream about you and I try really hard but it just doesn't happen." and "I miss you more than anything." I found an old note in her diary that (I think) she intended to put out where he's buried, and it says,
"Dear Sherman,
I used to tell you that when you died, I'd be going right with you because we're a team and we always have been. I wished I could've known that you were ready to die. I always spent every day in school thinking 'Is this the day I'm going to come home and find out that you're gone'. I don't need to worry about that anymore, and for that, I'm glad, but I miss you so much. I'd give anything to be with you again but I'm only a kid and I need to live my life. Just know, Sherman, that I love you and I'm never going to have another dog as special and meaningful to me as you.
Love,
Casey"
I think she was too attatched to this dog. She said she once had a dream about all of her past dogs she's had, and she could clearly see the faces of 3 of them, but a larger dog was with the 3 but it's face was sort of black and blurry. She thinks it was Sherman. I'm worried that her dog's deaths could have driven her into depression. She doesn't have the energy that she used to have and things like basketball, drawing, cleaning, singing, hanging out with her family and anything to do with being with other people that she used to love, she now hates. She likes being by herself.
I'm also concerned she might be bipolar? She can go for half an hour being pleasant and goofy, but then she could be very angry. Sometimes she's really tired and sad-faced, and then she's irritable.
I'm deeply concerned about my niece. She wants to be a police officer when she grows up, and she always has since she was 6, but if she has some kind of mental issue, she won't be able to do that. :/
She's been this way ever since one of the dogs she had drowned in her family's pond. Her personality took a complete and utter U-Turn when her dog she grew up with had to be put to sleep because of kidney failure. She had that dog for everday of her life and if that dog and her father were hanging off of a cliff and she could only save one of them, she would've picked the dog. She adored that dog. She loved him so much.
Sophie (the dog that drowned) died back in February of 2010 and Sherman (the dog that was put to sleep) died on St. Patrick's Day of 2010.
I know she stays up until around 1-4a.m. every night for the past 2-3 months. I think she must be sleep deprived because she's always yawning, she has big bags under her eyes and under her eyes are really dark. She falls asleep during her classes in school and she says she gets horrible headaches when she starts to get somewhat tired during school. She said a few times she forgets to do her homework, so she puts it off until the morning to do. She said on mornings where she has homework to do, before she does it, she has a horrible headache for a while, like somebody is squeezing her head and won't let go. She said sometimes things look "out of focus" and blurry. She said "behind her eyes" hurts and throbs. If you offer her food, she's never hungry. When she does eat, she doesn't eat much. She eats random snacks though. She always skips breakfast, eats a few things at school lunch, and then eats some dinner.
Going back to the dogs, whenever she's angry or really upset about something, and she's crying, you can hear her say, "This is one of the times I'd need Sherman." and she talks about missing hugging him, and cuddling with him on the floor in front of the fireplace. She could barely stand watching the movie Marley & Me in the ending because she always thinks "I wonder if that's what Sherman felt like being put to sleep." and she starts bawling. She was at school when the dog was put to sleep, so she also says "I'd give anything to say goodbye to my old man.". She goes out to the woods where Sherman is buried, and once, I followed her and listened to her while she was out there. She was sitting next to the place where he was buried and picked weeds off the top. She just kind of knelt there and then started talking, saying things like, "Sherman I'd love to hear you bark one more time." and "I wish I could dream about you and I try really hard but it just doesn't happen." and "I miss you more than anything." I found an old note in her diary that (I think) she intended to put out where he's buried, and it says,
"Dear Sherman,
I used to tell you that when you died, I'd be going right with you because we're a team and we always have been. I wished I could've known that you were ready to die. I always spent every day in school thinking 'Is this the day I'm going to come home and find out that you're gone'. I don't need to worry about that anymore, and for that, I'm glad, but I miss you so much. I'd give anything to be with you again but I'm only a kid and I need to live my life. Just know, Sherman, that I love you and I'm never going to have another dog as special and meaningful to me as you.
Love,
Casey"
I think she was too attatched to this dog. She said she once had a dream about all of her past dogs she's had, and she could clearly see the faces of 3 of them, but a larger dog was with the 3 but it's face was sort of black and blurry. She thinks it was Sherman. I'm worried that her dog's deaths could have driven her into depression. She doesn't have the energy that she used to have and things like basketball, drawing, cleaning, singing, hanging out with her family and anything to do with being with other people that she used to love, she now hates. She likes being by herself.
I'm also concerned she might be bipolar? She can go for half an hour being pleasant and goofy, but then she could be very angry. Sometimes she's really tired and sad-faced, and then she's irritable.
I'm deeply concerned about my niece. She wants to be a police officer when she grows up, and she always has since she was 6, but if she has some kind of mental issue, she won't be able to do that. :/
I think it is awesome that you are worried enough about your niece to look for answers. I was suffering from depression at that age and everyone was just too busy I think.
The best thing you can do I think is to be someone who is there to talk to, and maybe look into support groups for young people with depression, and a psychologist. Also ask her about anxiety. I had it for years and had no idea.
The best thing you can do I think is to be someone who is there to talk to, and maybe look into support groups for young people with depression, and a psychologist. Also ask her about anxiety. I had it for years and had no idea.
Hm, I don't think everyone scores high or "fail" on those tests. Those tests aren't used for diagnosing, but they're helpful in bringing light onto a potential condition/issue. You can sit down with your niece and ask her if there are any particular reasons as to why she's been feeling irritable and if she's doing anything different in her daily routine that would affect her appetite and sleep cycle. Be sure to ask her if these issues have been present every day for at least two weeks. Also, try asking her if anything upsetting has occurred recently. If her answers cause concern, I say that the next step can be to bring your niece to meet with a mental health professional for an evaluation.
12....Everyone scores high on those tests esp. kids. Are you confused? Yes Do you wonder where life will take you? Yes..All the questions are random. I would suggest you read some literature about the problem before you label your kid with it. She may just need you to address some issues about home and happiness. (I do not assume to know). Be there. You sound like a concerned parent. That is a great step in the right direction. You are doing the right thing by inquiring online.
PS: take the test- we all fail. Take any test. I took abnormal psychology in university and about half of us were convinced we had every disorder.
PS: take the test- we all fail. Take any test. I took abnormal psychology in university and about half of us were convinced we had every disorder.
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