Helping Kids Cope Without Antidepressants (Page 3)

Mind-body techniques
Techniques that yoga and meditation teachers have long taught to adults also can do wonders to help children with anxiety slow down and relax. There are many ways kids can learn to achieve a more relaxed state, depending on what resonates with any given child. “I believe in the shotgun approach, so Ill train just about every kid I see with at least five or six different ways to achieve a relaxed, comfortable, balanced state of mind,” Culbert says.

Offering that many options is important since many kids will not be at all interested in, or able to use, some techniques. For instance, many children have a tough time taking slow, belly breaths. By giving kids choices, they usually can find one or two techniques that work for them. For children, the most popular relaxation-inducing techniques on the smorgasbord include:

Diaphragmatic or belly breathing. Depending on the age and lung capacity of the child, she can count to five or seven as she breathes in, first to her belly, then to her lungs. She then exhales at a slow, even pace, counting again to the same number.

Progressive muscle relaxation. Working from toe to head or head to toe, children can squeeze each muscle group in their body for ten seconds, then relax for ten seconds. Culbert follows this practice with what he calls a body scan. With eyes closed, a child will do a mental check of his whole body, checking which muscles are relaxed and which are not. Then hell repeat the squeeze-and-relax technique until his whole body is relaxed.

Visualization. Children close their eyes and form an image in their mind of a favorite place or activity that makes them happy. “The idea,” says Culbert, “is to bring up a positive emotional feeling or state like care, appreciation, love or support.” This is often combined with slow, rhythmic breathing.

Biofeedback. For anxious children, biofeedback can be a life-saver. It works in two ways, says Joanne Yeaton, the clinical social worker who treated Sofia Wright in Oakland, Calif. The fact biofeedback uses a computer that contains interesting animation and graphics captures the interest of todays wired generation, but the softwares slow pace and Yeatons calm discourse slows them down. I like the irony of using a computer-based intervention because its a way of using some things that can be a problem for kids and use it to bring them back to themselves. It also gives her a chance to teach them deep breathing, visualization and other standard relaxation techniquesand then have them see the results instantly. Today, software programs such as The Journey to Wild Divine, a biofeedback game promoted by Deepak Chopra, MD, and Dean Ornish, MD, can be used at home to engage kids who might never otherwise be interested in attempting deep breathing or guided imagery.

One thing to remember: Mind-body techniques are great for kids with anxiety and can help children with sleep disorders get to dreamland, but they are not particularly helpful for depressed children–unless their depression is mixed with anxiety. For some people with more severe depression, certain forms of relaxation like hypnosis or biofeedback are contraindicated because you dont want to bring them into states of deeper depression, Culbert says.

Is it really a problem?
From the terrible twos to the turbulent teens, childhood naturally involves some emotional volatility. That can make it difficult for parents to distinguish between normal mood fluctuations in their children and more serious health conditions such as depression. The Mayo Clinic identifies several possible warning signs for depression in adolescents. When evaluating a child, therapists consider the number of these symptoms the child demonstrates, as well as the duration, frequency and severity of these symptoms.

What to Look For:
Preschool
Listlessness
Decreased interest in playing
Cries easily and more often than usual

Elementary school
Listlessness and moodiness
More irritable than usual
Looks sad
Easily discouraged
Complains of boredom
More distant with friends and family
Difficulty with schoolwork
Talks about death

Teenager
Always tired
Drops out of favorite activities
Has more arguments with parents and teachers
Refuses to do chores or homework
Engages in harmful behavior, such as cutting himself or herself
Has suicidal thoughts

The Latest Research
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the understanding of antidepressant treatments in youth, though growing substantially, remains limited when compared to what is known about treatment of depression in adults. According to the NIMH website, Recently, concerns have been raised that the use of antidepressant medications may induce suicidal behavior in youths. In fact, following a thorough and comprehensive review of all the available published and unpublished controlled clinical trials of antidepressants in children and adolescents, the FDA adopted a black box label warning that antidepressants were found to increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with major depressive disorders. A black-box warning is the most serious warning on prescription drug labels.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Kenneth L.

1:59PM PST on Jan 7, 2013

Good article, Rob Waters.

"In Psychiatry no one knows the causes of anything, so classification can be driven by all sorts of factors --- political, social and financial" Edward Shorter, Historian of Psychiatry

"In our increasingly Psychiatrized world, the first course is often to classify anything but routine happiness as a mental disorder, assume it is based on a broken brain or a chemical imbalance, and prescribe drugs..." Dr. Paula Caplan, Psychologist

"Children on these (psychiatric) drugs lose their spontaneity--that which makes them children- The same thing is seen in chimpanzees given these drugs--they "behave" very nicely, not trying to interact with their neighbors and not grooming themselves. Kids are made into similarly good caged animals" Dr. Peter Breggin, Psychiatrist

"(regarding psychiatrists) They're not helping people with drugs. And they're not looking out for harming people. They're ignoring the harm that's coming from all of these drugs" Dr. Norman Shealy, M.D., Neurosurgeon

"They have documented through testing that the IQ has dropped drastically of these children on these (psychiatric) medications" Dr. Ann Blake Tracy, Psychologist

January 7
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Past Member .

9:16AM PDT on Sep 4, 2010

Good article, but seriously--the elementary and teenage "signs"? How are those different from normal puberty? Who doesn't go through angst, boredom, mood swings (argumentative) during that time?

Drugging children isn't the answer, but parents and the medical industry need to chill out--remember when you were a kid to try to figure out how to deal with your own when they go through their hormonal roller coaster of growing up. It's common sense which adults seem to conveniently forget about (hence I still don't consider myself an adult).Spelling Games

September 4
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July 13
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Linda J.

6:57AM PST on Feb 27, 2010

thanks

February 27
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Eva H.

11:58AM PST on Jan 12, 2010

when my son had some problems (due to his father's depression) we found kinesiology very helpful...

January 12
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gerlinde p.

10:08PM PST on Jan 2, 2010

kids don`t need antidepressants, they need attentive,understanding and caring grownups in their lives.i was glad i had a lot of good friends who where there for my daughter,when she felt she needed to talk to someone and it wasn`t me she wanted to discuss certain things with.

January 2
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sue w.

6:05PM PST on Dec 28, 2009

I wonder if you guys realize just how any people die from antidepressants? How many who manage not to die are paralyzed, heads messed up they need continuous care or who can no longer take any type of drug at all, not even life saving drugs?
I wonder if you realize just how many law suits there are against these drugs.

I sat in on an FDA meeting once. Thousands in the audience, all waiting to tell their story against Prozac. Each one spoke the terrors they had been through. Many where they had found themselves trying to stab, drown or choke their kids. Many who had died and not just from suicide. Kids, where they are now lethargic zombies. I could go on and on but I think you get the gist.
The FDA, a panel made up of rotating Psychiatrists decided there was not enough proof that the drug did nay harm despite additional testimony from doctors. It was later found that each and every member of the FDA had stocks and shares in Eli Lily the makers of Prozac.

December 28
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3:41AM PST on Dec 16, 2009

Medications given properly, with extreme caution and STRICT monitoring can save young peoples lives.. that is those who are in NEED of medication.
Often times, we have neglected to realize that these meds can intensify actions of teenagers, BEFORE they help reduce depression..etc.
That means the child can carry through with suicdal thoughts with more strength, but he or she is not yet feeling better.
And yes, meds should not be given if other types of treatment are more appropriate.
My deep sympathy for those who have lost family members.
vitamin c

December 16
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Moonbeam R.

4:51PM PST on Dec 7, 2009

Not according to the Church Of Scientology they don't Katrina T.!! And I'm not saying that You are referring to the Church Of Scientology, Ok? I'm just pointing out the fact that Scientologists don't Believe in the use of Psyciatric Medications.They use Auditing Sessions with an E-Meter instead.And that has helped Me quite a lot more than Psyciatric Medication EVER did!! I mean no offence so please don't be offended,Ok? And stop wasting You're Time with Me Naga C.!!! If I don't want to Believe something,Im NOT going to Believe it no matter what!!