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| Emotional Disorders |
Emotional Disorders
Research shows that 12 million American children suffer from some type of mental disorder. It also
shows that fewer than 1 in 5 of these kids receive the appropriate treatment needed to recover from
their illness. When we think of depression and anxiety we normally don’t associate it as an early
childhood topic. Many adults think that emotional issues just do not take affect in early years. The
truth is that children are susceptible to emotional problems at an early age. They often have a
difficult time handling and overcoming painful emotions and situations.
Depression It is a serious mental health problem that affects people of all ages, including children,
as many as 1 in every 33 American child. Depression in children has similar symptoms as it does in
adults: sadness, helplessness, fatigue and low self-esteem. Recognizing depression in children,
however, is sometimes difficult.
Below are some possible signs to be aware of:
• Frequent sadness, tearfulness, or crying.
Research shows that 12 million American children suffer from some type of mental disorder. It also
shows that fewer than 1 in 5 of these kids receive the appropriate treatment needed to recover from
their illness. When we think of depression and anxiety we normally don’t associate it as an early
childhood topic. Many adults think that emotional issues just do not take affect in early years. The
truth is that children are susceptible to emotional problems at an early age. They often have a
difficult time handling and overcoming painful emotions and situations.
Depression It is a serious mental health problem that affects people of all ages, including children,
as many as 1 in every 33 American child. Depression in children has similar symptoms as it does in
adults: sadness, helplessness, fatigue and low self-esteem. Recognizing depression in children,
however, is sometimes difficult.
Below are some possible signs to be aware of:
• Frequent sadness, tearfulness, or crying.
• Play that involves excessive aggression directed toward oneself or others, or involves persistently sad themes.
• Recurring thoughts or talk of death, or self-destructive behavior.
If your child or one you know is struggling with any combination of these symptoms for more than
two weeks, talk with a doctor or mental health professional. One of the problems often encountered in diagnosing depression is the
inability of a child to accurately express how he or she feels. A young child may not understand the concept of "helplessness" and
therefore cannot explain it to an adult. This appears to be a major reason why so many children who suffer from depression go
untreated.
Depression is treatable. Early identification, diagnosis, and treatment help children reach their full potential. Children who show signs
of depression should be referred to and evaluated by a mental health professional who specializes in treating children. The evaluation
may include consultation with a child psychiatrist, psychological testing, and medical tests to rule out an underlying physical
condition that might explain the child’s symptoms. For those who do receive the needed treatment, therapy is essential. Therapy
teaches a child to express feelings and learn to adapt to and cope with their environment.
Conduct Disorder
The most common group of mental illness 1 in 10 American children has a conduct disorder. Many people confuse a child with a
conduct disorder with simply being rebellious or being a juvenile delinquent. Studies suggest that a child with a conduct disorder
often has underlying problems that have not been diagnosed. The disorder may result from a child's attempt to cope with his or her
hostile environment or from a chemical imbalance in a child's biological structure.
Conduct disorder is a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in children, when the rights of others or basic social rules are
violated. The child usually exhibits these behavior patterns in a variety of settings at home, at school, and in social situations and they
cause significant impairment in his or her social, academic, and family functioning. Research has shown that most children and
adolescents with conduct disorder do not grow up to have behavioral problems or problems with the law as adults; most of these
kids do well as adults, both socially and occupationally.
Conduct disorder has both genetic and environmental components. Although the problem is more common among the children of
adults who exhibited conduct issues when they were young, there are many other factors which researchers believe contribute to the
development of the disorder. Studies show conduct disorder appear to have deficits in processing social information or social cues,
and some may have been rejected by peers as young children. Conduct disorders do not go away without proper intervention and
appropriate treatment. Treatment is generally geared toward making the child realize and understand the effects of their behavior. For
children suffering from an attention deficit disorder or depression in addition to the conduct disorder, medication may be required.
Phobias
Nearly all children have certain fears at different stages of their development. Fear of monsters, the dark or strangers are certainly
not uncommon. Normally, a child outgrows these fears. Sometimes, fears may persist and develop, interfering with a child's normal
schedule. These fears may be simple phobias; fear of certain people, places or things, and may subside without any type of
treatment. More often than not, children with childhood phobias do not receive treatment for their fears. It is important to consider,
however, that treatment may be required if the fear persists or accelerates. Treatment for phobias are through behavioral therapy in
which they are exposed to the feared object and must learn to overcome their anxieties and manage their fears. The phobia generally
disappears or decreases so that it no longer interferes with the child's daily activities.
Types of Phobias:
Specific phobias - are the most common and focus on specific objects.
Social phobia - causes extreme anxiety in social or public situations.
Agoraphobia - is the fear of being alone in public places from which there is no easy escape.
Although these conditions can be very frightening and disabling, they are also very treatable. It is important to recognize the
symptoms and seek help. A complete medical and psychiatric evaluation should be conducted by a licensed physician or psychologist
to obtain an accurate diagnosis and ensure that the symptoms are not being caused by another condition. Behavioral therapy and
cognitive-behavioral therapy are very effective in treating these disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy - teaches new skills in order
to react differently to the situations which trigger the anxiety or panic attacks. Patients also learn to understand how their thinking
patterns contribute to the symptoms and how to change their thinking to reduce or stop these symptoms.
Separation Anxiety
Being separated from a parent may be a traumatic time for a child, especially if he or she is not old enough to understand the
circumstances of the separation. It is usually overcome when the child's attention is diverted or he or she adapt to the surroundings.
For some children, the anxiety of being away from a parent or loved one is too overwhelming to comprehend, and causes severe
emotional stress.
These children have a great need to stay at home or be close to their parents. Children with this disorder may worry excessively
about their parents when they are apart from them. When they are together, the child may cling to parents, refuse to go to school, or
be afraid to sleep alone. The child may suffer from repeated nightmares about separation.
Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when a child develops a severe anxiety, almost to the point of panic. This anxiety is so
intense that it interferes greatly with the everyday activities of the child. Separation anxiety disorder may cause a child to feel faint,
be nauseated, or develop headaches. Children suffering from separation anxiety disorder are often afraid to visit or sleep at a friend's
house, go to school, or even leave the house unless accompanied by a parent. Therapy or medication are two methods of treatment
which usually allow the child to overcome or cope with the separation.
Being a child is no easy task, and each child has his or her individual way of dealing with situations. Parenting all children presents its
challenges. It is important for a parent not to overlook a potential problem. Situations, exhibited above prolonged or recurring, may
indicate that a disorder is present. To learn more, about any of the above disorders talk to a doctor or mental health professional.
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| ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2004 Bright Tots® Inc. - Educational Toys & Resource Guide to Child Development - All rights reserved. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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• Feelings of hopelessness.
• Withdrawal from friends and activities.
• Lack of enthusiasm or motivation.
• Decreased energy level.
• Major changes in eating or sleeping habits.
• Increased irritability, agitation, anger or hostility.
• Frequent physical complaints such as headaches and stomachaches.
• Indecision or inability to concentrate.
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt.
• Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure.
• Pattern of dark images in drawings or paintings.