While we’d all love to believe that children are always perfect, the sad fact is that mental illness can affect anyone of any age, and that includes children.
How You Can Help
Spotting mental illness signs is the first step to helping many children to get help and deal with their issues.
Once you’ve spotted a problem, you must get professional medical help as soon as possible. Many places have mental health first aiders who can help in an emergency, but a trip to the doctor is the best first step for most people.
Anxiety
Many kids will go through sensitive periods in their life and, for the most part, this is a perfectly normal part of growing up. Fear of strangers worry about school, even being a little shy are all very common and very normal aspects of childhood.
The problem arises when these common sensitivities turn into full-blown issues, and such is the case with anxiety. While it’s normal for children to be wary of strangers, being terrified to leave the house is not normal, and this is something that needs to be addressed with a doctor or health professional.
Bulimia and Eating Disorders
It’s a sad fact that as many as 0.4% of girls and 0.1% of boys will develop an eating disorder at some point in their life, and sometimes it can be very hard to spot.
Getting treatment for bulimia and other disorders means spotting the early warning signs and being proactive about taking them to a professional. Early intervention here is critical.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is, in some ways, a fairly new diagnosis, and for many parents, it can just seem like their child is being overly naughty. ODD usually goes hand in hand with other mental disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and it can have a very negative impact on children’s learning and social activities.
Spot the signs of ODD and ADHD early and speak with a qualified medical professional who has experience in these disorders. If you feel like you’re being dismissed, find another doctor.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Is your child a bit fussy about awesome things? Will they line their toys up in color or alphabetical order? Only have a certain number of peas on their plate, get worried about hand hygiene to the point of damaging their skin?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder comes from a need to control a situation and usually stems from a form of anxiety. While some habits can be good, going overboard can have a negative mental impact and should be addressed by a best blue cross pediatrician.
Depression
Kids can suffer from depression, it’s a severe illness that can affect anyone of any age, and you must address it if it does pop up.
The signs of depression can be difficult to spot, but if your child isn’t interested in the things they loved to do, starts speaking slower, and seems lethargic, they may be different from depression. Catching it early can make all the difference to their mental state now and in the future.
