Mental health is no laughing matter and it is not a minor issue too. Most of the time, signs have been evident but people tend to ignore them. What if the signs are showing and it’s coming from your own child?
Tough decisions but necessary
One thing for sure, mental illness is a stigma that is difficult to acknowledge. Parents find it hard to identify and when they do, it gets harder to accept. But know this, there are treatments for mental illness and like any other form of the disease, if checked and curbed early, could be cured. The warning signs range from subliminal to very obvious. You just need to be aware of them. Having mental illnesses does not mean a person is ‘crazy’ or a lunatic. It refers to how well a person thinks, controls feelings and affects behavior. Sometimes called mental health disorder, it is the patterns involved in a person’s thoughts, feelings and behavior. Among children, the approach would be different. What makes this more challenging is that a child’s growing up is always filled with changes and some signs of mental health disorder can be mistaken for these changes.
Common mental disorders among kids
To know how to identify the signs, one must first understand the common types of disorders which include:
- Anxiety – This includes worries or fears and could well be some form of inferiority complex. The child might be afraid to join activities and games.
- ADHD or Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder – Among the most common types of mental health disorders. This would affect the behavior of the child.
- Autism – This is a condition on the brain that can occur very early and goes on until a later age.
- Mood related – This can cause depression and sadness leading to bipolar disorder. If not checked, it could lead to suicide.
- PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder – Often caused by a traumatic experience or chapter in life like a death in the family or accident.
- Schizophrenia – Common disorder faced by children who are lonely or often left in isolation.
What are the signs?
There are several common signs that you must be aware of when it comes to children. These traits can be normal among adults but if they are happening to your child, then it is time to be more sensitive and perhaps refer to the doctor. They include:
- Sadness – Usually going on for more than a week or two.
- Withdrawal – Not wanting to socialize and often keeps to himself
- Physical harm – Talking about hurting oneself or actually doing so
- Suicidal tendencies – An obvious and very dangerous occurrence even when the child talks about it.
- Sudden outbursts
- Mood swings – Sudden changes in mood
- Eating behavior – Drastic changes in the eating habits.
- Sleeping – Not being able to sleep, insomnia or often waking up in the middle of the night
- Concentration – Loss of concentration even during trivial moments like talking
- Not wanting to go to school