Istanbul Gelisim University - ‘Masked depression’ in children is not noticed

‘Masked depression’ in children is not noticed

Psychiatrist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevcan Karakoç Demirkaya stating that it is difficult to understand the ‘masked depression’ used for people who seem happy, smiling but suffering inside, said: “Young people appear to have fun and often wander with a smile on their faces. Therefore, families cannot recognize the ‘masked depression’ of their children.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevcan Karakoç Demirkaya said: “Masked depression is not easy to understand. These young people appear to have fun and wander with a smile on their faces. Therefore, families cannot recognize the depression in their children. Those with masked depression usually say, that ‘under the smile my heart bleeds’.”

Stating that masked depression is also called smiling depression or hidden depression Psychiatristfrom Istanbul Gelisim University Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevcan Karakoç Demirkaya added: “Everybody recognizes the typical unhappy, depressed, unwilling and depressed depression. But masked depression is not easy to understand. Those with masked depression say, ‘under the smile my heart bleeds’. Falling in course success, various unrelated pains, gastrointestinal problems, skin problems, chronic fatigue, sleep problems, smoking and alcohol use are actually the masks of underlying depression.”

“FAMILIES DO NOT DIFFER THE DEPRESSION IN CHILDREN”

Noting that young people in masked depression seem having fun and wandering around with a smile on their faces Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevcan Karakoç Demirkaya said: “Therefore, families cannot notice the depression in their children. Even if young people are depressed, “denial” and “somatization” are the most common defense mechanisms. Decrease in school success, school refusal, escaping from home, eating disorders or alcohol-smoking, continuous irritability may be symptoms of depression in adolescents.”

“SEEN IN CHILDREN OF NARSIST PARENTS”

Emphasizing that families can blame their children for ‘spoiled-adolescence crisis-weakness’ Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demirkaya said: “Masked depression is commonly seen in children of parents with perfectionist and narcissistic features. We don't always have to be ‘strong’ including adults, we can take off masks and look for help. Let us not forget that differences in behavior in our child may also be a sign of depression. Approaches such as ‘Do you really worry about that? ’or ‘There is nothing to worry about’ force our child to look fakely strong and push the underlying depression to mask. Depression is a curable disease, not weakness.”