Posts under ‘Psychology’

First blog talked about causes and symptoms of anxiety disorders in children. The second blog focused on the different types of anxiety disorders. Today’s blog will cover the parents, caregivers can do to help children with anxiety disorder.

Here are some tips to help children with stress and anxiety

• Provide a safe, comfortable, consistent dependable home

• Screen the television programs that young children watch. Even the news with violent scenes can produce fears and anxiety.

• Spend calm and relaxing time with your children. Teach them techniques to relax such as calm music, taking warm baths or closing your eyes and taking deep breaths.

The first blog was about symptoms and causes of anxiety in children. Today’s focus is on the different types of anxiety disorders in children.

• Generalized anxiety disorder

  Children with GAD have recurring fears and worries that are difficult to control. They worry about everything from school, sports to natural disasters. They may exhibit symptoms of restlessness, irritability, fatigue, and may have trouble concentrating. They are often eager to please others and may be “perfectionists.” They may exhibit physical symptoms such as muscle tension and inability to relax, restlessness, fatigue, sleep apnea, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.

Anxiety can affect people of all ages. It is the most common type of mental health disorder in children and affects as many as 10% of young people (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). This will be a three part series. References will be listed on the end of the third blog.

Causes of anxiety in children:

• Genetic predisposition

  Anxiety disorders tend to run in families, so if a person’s parent or other close relative has anxiety, they have a higher chance of developing anxiety themselves. In addition, children learn behaviors from their role models, so if their role models are anxious, children can learn to be anxious.

Previous blog talked about identifying possible signs of a child suffering from a mental illness. Here are steps parents should take if they suspect that their child may have a mental illness.

• Journal

  Writing down behaviors and symptoms, along with dates can help begin to identify patterns or changes. This can be a great tool to bring to the pediatrician or counselor.

• Talk to your caretaker, caregivers or teacher about showing any changes in behavior

  Talking to other caretakers can help bring together different pieces of the puzzle. How does the child behave outside of the home? How does the child interact with other friends? Other adults? Have there been a dramatic change in behavior?

10% of children and young people are believed to have a mental health problem. A child’s mental emotional needs may not be as recognizable as identifying child’s physical needs such as food, warm clothes for winter, or getting to sleep.

The following are possible signs that a child may need professional help.

• decline in school performance

• regular worry or anxiety or fear of a variety of things

• hyperactivity

• disobedience or aggression

• frequent tantrums

• inability to cope effectively

• inability to concentrate

• difficulty learning and retaining information

Schizophrenia is a rare psychiatric illness in children, occurring 1 in 40,000, compared to 1 in 100 in adults.

Causes of childhood schizophrenia- research is still needed

• Damage to the nervous system during early development

• Genetic predisposition (family history)

Symptoms of childhood schizophrenia

• Trouble distinguishing dreams and fantasies from reality

• Auditory and visual hallucinations: seeing things and hearing voices that are not real

• Confused train of thought

• Bizarre thoughts and ideas

• Fluctuations in mood

• Peculiar or behaviors

Depression is treatable. Early identification and treatment helps children reach their full potential. Children who show signs of depression should be evaluated by a pediatrician and referred to a child psychiatrist. Early assessment can help provide a comprehensive treatment plan. The treatment could involve combination of:

Short term psychotherapy

There are many types of therapies, but research has shown cognitive behavioral therapy to be most effective. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on how a person thinks and believes. Children with depression have patterns, which skews the way they perceive the world. During the therapy sessions, the psychologist works with the child to identify dysfunctional thoughts. Other therapies include play therapy (children express their difficult feelings through art, playing activities, music), interpersonal therapy (interpersonal relationships and coping mechanisms), family therapy (exploring family relationships).

All children can feel sad or have a bad day once in a while. However, when these feelings persist and begin to interfere with a child’s ability to function in daily life, depression may be the source. It is estimated that 2.5% of children in the U.S. suffer from depression.

Signs and symptoms of depression in children:

Like depression in adults, the illness has the following symptoms in a child:

• Hopelessness

• Excessive guilt

• Suicidal thoughts or ideation

• Loss of energy

• Helplessness

• Fatigue

• Increase or decrease in sleep patterns

The famous celebrities are not immune to having phobias, and in fact, suffer them just as much as other Americans do.

Hydrophobics (fear of water)

• Natalie Wood

  She was a famous actress, well known for her roles in Westside Story and Rebel without a Cause. She died drowning in the water from an apparent boating accident, which raised questions.

• Other actresses include Carmen Electra and Michelle Pfeiffer

Arachnophobic (fear of spiders)

• Andre Agassi

  He is a renown Tennis star who won 4 grand slam titles.

Aviophobic (fear of flying)

A specific phobia is an intense fear of something that is generally considered harmless. If you are exposed to the thing you’re afraid of, you become overwhelmed with extreme feelings of anxiety, fear, and even panic. This experience is so unpleasant that you will go to great lengths to avoid the object or situation you fear. The American Psychiatric Association reports that each year, 7.8% of American adults suffer from a phobia.

Signs and symptoms of phobia

• Shortness of breath or smothering sensation

• Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate

• Chest pain or discomfort