Emotional Disorder: Everyone experiences sadness at some point in their life — it is a normal human emotion.  However, when sadness extends beyond an expected response to a life event and begins to impact learning and social functioning, a diagnosis of depression is considered.  In addition to sadness, feelings such as excessive guilt, hopelessness, and worthlessness are usually present as are changes in sleeping and eating patterns (may sleep or eat too little or too much) and difficulty concentrating.  The child may also withdraw from social contact and from the activities he or she used to enjoy.  It is very common for children to suffer from both anxiety and depression.

How to sight it:

• unnecessary anxiety
• withdrawal from school
• fear of people or places

What we can do to help: As part of our comprehensive evaluations, we frequently consult with outside medical and mental health providers and stay up to date on current research to ensure your child receives proper assessment.  It is important to identify emotional factors that can contribute to poor academic and social outcomes so that children receive appropriate intervention and can learn the tools they need for successful management of their mood.