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.
• 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.
• 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.
For more information on emotional health please visit the link below.
www.nmha.org
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