Nervous Disorders In Children: What Parents Should Know

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

The health of the child is a natural matter of concern for parents, often already from the period of pregnancy. Cough, snot, fever, sore stomach, rash - and we run to the doctor, look for information on the Internet, buy medicines. But there are also non-obvious symptoms of ill health, to which we are used to turning a blind eye, believing that the child will "outgrow", "this is all wrong upbringing," or "he just has such a character."

Typically, these symptoms are manifested in behavior. If you notice that your child is behaving strangely, this may be one of the symptoms of a nervous disorder. The child does not look into the eyes, does not talk, often falls into tantrums, cries or is sad all the time, does not play with other children, is aggressive at the slightest pretext, hyperexcited, does not hold attention well, ignores the rules of behavior, is fearful, too passive, has tics, obsessive movements, stuttering, enuresis, frequent nightmares.

Symptoms of a nervous disorder in a child

During adolescence, it can be permanently depressed mood or apathy, sudden mood swings, eating disorders (gluttony, refusal to eat, strange food preferences), deliberate self-injury (cuts, burns), cruelty and dangerous behavior, deterioration of school performance from -for forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, regular use of alcohol and psychoactive drugs.

Also characterized by increased impulsivity and low self-control, increased fatigue over a long period, hatred of oneself and one's body, ideas that others are hostile and aggressive, suicidal moods or attempts, bizarre beliefs, hallucinations (visions, sounds, sensations).

Panic attacks, fears and severe anxiety, excruciating headaches, insomnia, psychosomatic manifestations (ulcers, blood pressure disorders, bronchial asthma, neurodermatitis) may occur.

The list of symptoms of mental and nervous disorders is, of course, broader. It is necessary to pay attention to all unusual, strange and alarming moments in the child's behavior, given their persistence and duration of manifestation.

Remember, what is normal at one age may be an indication of a problem at another. For example, lack of speech or poor vocabulary is not typical for children over 4–5 years old. Stormy tantrums and tears are a way for a 2-3 year old child to test their parents' strength and find out the boundaries of acceptable, but inappropriate behavior for a student.

Fears of strangers, losing their mother, darkness, death, natural disasters are natural, according to age norms, up to early adolescence. Later, phobias may indicate a dysfunctional mental life. Make sure that you yourself are not asking your child to be older than they really are. The mental health of preschool children is largely dependent on their parents.

Carefully observe how the child behaves in different situations and in different environments, how he is at home, and how he plays with children on the playground, in kindergarten, if there are problems at school and with friends. If educators, teachers, other parents complain to you about your child's behavior, do not take it personally, but clarify what exactly bothers them, how often it happens, what are the details and circumstances.

Do not think that they want to humiliate you or accuse you of something, compare the information and draw your own conclusions. Perhaps a look from the outside will be a necessary clue, and you can help your child in time: visit a psychologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist, neurologist. Neuropsychiatric disorders in children are treatable, the main thing is not to start the situation.

The stigmatization of mental health problems and disorders is still prevalent in our society. This causes additional pain for people who suffer from them and their relatives. Shame, fear, confusion and anxiety make it difficult to seek help when time passes and problems worsen.

According to statistics, in the USA, where psychiatric and psychological care is delivered much better than in Ukraine, on average 8-10 years pass between the appearance of the first symptoms and seeking help. Whereas about 20% of children have some kind of mental disorder. Half of them actually outgrow, adapt, and compensate.

Causes of a nervous disorder in children

Mental disorders often have a genetic, organic basis, but this is not a sentence. With the help of upbringing in a supportive environment, they can be avoided or significantly reduced.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true: violence, traumatic experiences, including sexual, emotional and pedagogical neglect, bullying, dysfunctional or criminal family environment, very much harm the development of children, causing them non-healing psychological wounds.

The attitude of parents to the child from birth to 3 years, how the pregnancy and the first months after childbirth took place, the emotional state of the mother during this period lay the foundations for the child's mental health. The most sensitive period: from birth to 1–1, 5 years, when the personality of the baby is formed, his further ability to adequately perceive the world around him and flexibly adapt to it.

Serious illness of the mother and child, her physical absence, strong emotional experiences and stress, as well as neglect of the baby, minimal bodily and emotional contact with him (feeding and changing diapers is not enough for normal development) are risk factors for the occurrence of disorders.

What to do if it seems to you that the child is behaving strangely? The same as at a temperature: look for a specialist and seek help. Depending on the symptoms, either a doctor - a neurologist, psychiatrist, or a psychologist or psychotherapist can help.

Nervous Disorders of Children: Treatment

The doctor will prescribe medications and procedures, a psychologist and psychotherapist, with the help of special classes, exercises, conversations, will teach the child to communicate, control his behavior, express himself in socially acceptable ways, help resolve internal conflict, get rid of fears and other negative experiences. Sometimes you may need a speech therapist or remedial educator.

Not all difficulties require the intervention of doctors. Sometimes a child reacts painfully to sudden changes in the family for him: divorce of parents, conflicts between them, the birth of a brother or sister, the death of a close relative, the appearance of new partners from the parents, a move, the beginning of attending a kindergarten or school. Often the source of problems is the system of relationships that has developed in the family and between mother and father, and the style of upbringing.

Be prepared that you yourself may need to consult a psychologist. Moreover, sometimes it is enough to work with adults so that the child calms down and his unwanted manifestations come to naught. Take responsibility for yourself. “Do something with him. I can’t take it anymore,”is not the position of an adult.

Preserving Children's Mental Health: Necessary Skills

• empathy - the ability to read and understand the feelings, emotions and state of another person without merging with him, imagining two as a single whole;
• the ability to express in words your feelings, needs, desires;
• the ability to hear and understand another, to conduct a dialogue;
• the ability to establish and maintain the psychological boundaries of the individual;
• the tendency to see the source of control of your life in yourself without falling into guilt or omnipotence.

Read literature, attend lectures and seminars on parenting, engage in your own development as a person. Apply this knowledge to your child. Feel free to ask for help and advice.

Because the main task of parents is to love the child, accept his imperfections (as well as their own), protect his interests, create favorable conditions for the development of his own individuality, without replacing it with your dreams and ambitions about the ideal child. And then your little sun will grow up healthy and happy, able to love and care.