You said that your child seems sad or irritable after the death of (or separation from)
a loved one. When a person tries to deal with the loss of a loved one, this is called
bereavement. It is a time of sadness that usually lasts for less than 2 months. Your
child seems to be going through bereavement.
During this time you may notice that your child:
Eats too much or too little
Has trouble sleeping
Warning signs that things are getting worse:
Your child:
feels guilty about something s/he did or did not do at the time of the loved one's death
often has thoughts of death
says s/he feels worthless
seems extremely "slowed down" or lacks energy
has problems finishing school work or homework
does not want to do things s/he used to find fun
thinks she actually sees or hears the person who died
If you think things are getting worse talk to your child's doctor, even if you have discussed these problems before.
Adapted in part from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Primary Care (DSM-PC) (1996) and the American Psych
