Is Your Child Showing These Behavioral Disorder Symptoms?

We live in a world where stress is an everyday thing.through death or divorce or environmental toxins.
Many adults have trouble coping with daily stressesChildren (especially young children) are not capable of
of work, family,finances, etc. All these can lead todescribing their thoughts and feelings well. So it is up
anxiety disorders. What about our children? They areto us adults to look out for troubling symptoms that
the same, they are humans too and have emotionsmay mean our children are having mental disorders.
so they too are susceptible to mental and emotionalThese include :
disorders.1. A child is troubled by certain feelings.
It is therefore very important to observe our childrenThese feelings could be: sadness and hopelessness
and watch for any signs that they are maybe havingfor no good reason, extreme anger most of the
trouble coping. According to recent studies, as manytime, lots of crying, overreaction to minor issues,
as one in five children have a mental health disorderfeelings of worthlessness or guilty, anxious or
and one in ten have a serious mental health problem.worried, unable to get over the loss or death of
Now, this is not a joking matter.someone important, extremely fearful or having
Mental disorders can be classified into three threeunexplained fear, obsessing about physical
categories as follows:-appearances, worried that his/her mind is being
1. Emotional disorderscontrolled or is out of control.
- are also known as anxiety and mood disorders.2. A child experiences life changing circumstances
Includes depression, bipolar disorder, separationSuch circumstance can result in : a decline in school
anxiety, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress andperformance, no interest in things they once loved,
OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). What happenschanges in eating or sleeping patterns, avoiding
if this category of disorder is not treated? Healthfriends and family and wanting to be alone,
experts say it can often lead to suicide!daydreaming to much, feeling like life is too difficult to
2. Behavior disordershandle, hearing voices, having suicidal thoughts.
- are also referred to as disruptive disorders. Includes3. A child experiences poor concentration
ADD (attention deficit Disorder)/ADHD (attentionYou child is unable to make up his/her mind, unable to
deficit hyperactivity disorder), conduct disorder,sit still, worried about being harmed, a need to wash
aggressive and/or defiant behavior, disruptiveor clean things repeatedly or perform certain routines
disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. Whatover and over.
happens if this category of disorder is not treated?4. A child's behavior cause problems
Health experts say it can often lead to dropping outSome problems are : abuse of alcohol or other drugs,
of school and involvement in criminal behavioreating and purging, laxative abuse, obsessively dieting
3. Other disordersor exercising, a blatant disregard for others or other
- include eating disorders and schizophrenia. Whatpeople's property, setting fires, abusing animals.
happens if this category of disorder is not treated?If your child is exhibiting such behavioral traits, it is
Health experts say it can often lead to death!time to seek help before the situation gets out of
But what are the causes of children's mental healthcontrol. There are many treatment options for
problems? These two are the most common causesmental health disorders in children. You can seek
:-individual, group and family therapy, medication and
1. Biological causesplay therapy. Note that such treatments are most
- include genetics, damage to the central nervousbeneficial when they are home, school and
system or chemical imbalances.community based as your child will be more relax and
2.Environmental causesreceptive in these environment.
- include stress, exposure to violence, stress, losses