The children will pass through several stages of development come to influence their behavior. Not infrequently behavioral changes experienced by the child is considered as a phase that will pass by itself. In fact, several behavioral changes that could be a symptom of a mental disorder experienced by children.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School found that half of the cases of mental disorder starts from a very young age, 14 years and occurred since the age of 24 years. Because of its appearance very early, then therapy and treatment should be carried out since the beginning anyway.
Center Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that one in five children in the U.S. had a mental disorder. Concentration problems (ADHD), children rebel (oppositional Defiant Disorder / ODD), autism spectrum, mood and anxiety disorders, depression, is a type of mental disorder most commonly found.
Parents play a major role in reducing the severity of the disorder by paying attention to changes in children's behavior. Parents can also use their intuition if you feel "something is wrong" with their child.
Here are 5 of the symptoms to watch the kids and your teen.
1. Mood changes that last long
Mood changes lasting more than two weeks is a strong indicator of the existence of mental disorders in children. The mood changes can range from hyperactivity to too melancholy for no good reason.
According to The National Institute of Mental Health, the behavior of "very happy" or mania and feeling "down" or depressed can be a sign of bipolar disorder symptoms. However, hyperactive behavior in children who are not accompanied by symptoms of lethargy after that is characteristic of the normal child.
2. Excessive anxiety and fear
Fear and worry are common early childhood experience. Normal course they were scared of the dark, imagining figures of monsters, or fear of parting with parents. For school age children, anxious before performing in school or fear of not being accepted her friends, is a healthy response.
However, be careful if the child experienced the fear is excessive that it interferes with their activity. Maybe it's time for you to intervene.
3. Extreme changes in behavior
Start rebellious phase also is to be traversed in the child's stage of emotional development towards independence. But there is a very extreme defiance behavior called ODD. The disorder usually begins when the child is 8 years old or before entering their teens. One example of such behavior is to buy a few games without any interest to play it.
Mental disorders are closely related to behavior change is ADHD, anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
4. Physical changes, weight gain or fall dramatically
An estimated 80 percent of people who experience mental illness are obese or overweight. Sudden physical changes associated with puberty can not be an indicator of impaired children. Similarly, if the child seems no appetite, could be a symptom of depression.
Physical changes caused by the use of alcohol or drugs is also a symptom of depression in children. The experts said the risk of the child suffering from depression is greater if one or both parents also suffer from depression.
5. Lack of concentration
Children are very difficult to concentrate also had a mental disorder should be suspected. But parents also need to distinguish between children who really want to watch TV instead of doing homework, with children who are not able to focus on his favorite show on TV.
Inability to concentrate on simple tasks is a symptom of ADHD or depression. Lack of focus can also be caused because their minds focused on shame, guilt, or death. Poor concentration in children will be obvious effect on the value of academic or social.