A symptom of the bad times is that you think that they will never abate. You convince yourself that you are doomed forever to a state of half-life. You awake to a sighing gloom and an inordinate effort of will is required to leave your bed. You know that you should get up to arrest the feeling of despair, but the listlessness which is a characteristic of the condition holds you there, gazing upwards in static stare, musing over the endlessness of the day ahead. Everything is an effort and is carried out in slow motion. The smallest task, such as going to school or being with friends, is a weight on you...Minor problems, such as disputes between friends, become issues of magnitude. Decisions are deferred and avoided. Simple tasks are shelved. Worst of all is the disintegration of your self-confidence. You fumble in speech and in action. The ringing of a telephone assaults you and you shrink from answering it. This is how my friend acted right before he committed suicide in 1988.

Most of us like to think of childhood as a happy time, free from worry and responsibility. But research shows that children, not only adults, can suffer from depress

8. Does she seem more worn out and tired than in the past?

Although rare in young children, bipolar disorder—also known as manic-depressive illness—can appear in both children and adolescents. Bipolar disorder, which involves unusual shifts in mood, energy, and functioning, may begin with manic, depressive, or mixed manic and depressive symptoms. It is more likely to affect the children of parents who have the disorder.

It is very important for parents to understand their child's depression and the treatments that may be prescribed. Physicians can help by talking with parents about their questions or concerns, reinforcing that depression in youth is not uncommon, and reassuring them that appropriate treatment with psychotherapy, medication, or the combination can lead to improved functioning at school, with peers, and at home with family.

1. Frequent vague, non-specific physical complaints such as headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches or tiredness

9. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

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