You've heard the old question, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Many parents want to know the same about depression and other mental problems. Like the proverbial chicken-and-egg question, the answer doesn't matter. Recognizing that there is a problem and addressing it is the true dilemma.

Depression has a lot of “relatives.” These related disorders manifest themselves in problems with thoughts, feelings, behavior, and physiology. Each disorder comes with its own unique set of symptoms. Each contributes to a child's problems with day-to-day functioning and can cause significant disruptions in his relationships.

The relatives in a family are intertwined with one another, each affecting the other in unique and special ways. Some of these relationships can be troublesome, however, and in turn, problems occur. The same is true with depression and the following disorders. In order to fully understand the problem, the “troublemaker,” so to speak, needs to be discovered. Whether it's a depressive symptom or a symptom of another disorder doesn't matter, they must all be confronted.

As you read along, you may begin to feel anxious because the list of symptoms that you must be on the lookout for keeps getting longer and longer. Don't try to memorize specific symptoms of a disorder. Just be aware if any of them are showing up in your child. Like the disorders discussed in earlier chapters, keep and organize a list or a chart of bothersome symptoms and let the professionals take it from there.