Depression is indeed one of the major causes of behavioral problems among teens. Being a condition that has resulted from a wide range of behavioral, emotional, psychological, biological and environmental factors, depression continues to lead many people's lives astray—especially if not given enough attention and proper treatment as soon as possible.
Today, many studies show that one of the age brackets that are usually attacked by depression is during teenager years. Due to the many drastic changes a teenager has to go through during this major phase in his or her life, depression usually sets in especially if the person does not have enough tolerance to accept major shifts and changes in his or her life. Due to extreme changes and adjustments teenagers has to go through, some of them find it hard to cope up with sudden shifts in their lives.
One of the major factors that trigger depression in teens is low tolerance to stress. Stress-a state in which a strong demand is made on the nervous system-greatly affects the general outlook of a person when it comes to different things. When stress becomes unmanageable to certain individual—especially for a young one-it can result to deep—set depression and even to nervous breakdown.
What can be done?
In the United States alone, statistics shows that about 15 percent of American teenagers suffer from major depression that lead to behavioral problems afterwards. These depression attacks—which are usually characterized by repeated, recurrent and prolong periods of mood changes—are known to lead to significant academic and social impairments and even to suicide-the second leading cause of death in teenagers today.
In simple cases of behavioral problems in teens, the usual method of treating the condition is through a series of counseling where the patient is asked to attend consultations with a registered psychologist. The authorized physician will then administer tests and examinations-that can be oral or written-in order to determine the range of depression attack in the patient. After determining the extent of the depression, the psychologist will tend develop a program that can help the patient cope up with the factors in his or her life that causes stress and depression. These sessions usually last for six to eight series depending on the state of depression the patient is going through.
But, when it comes to major cases of behavior problems in teenagers, a series of counseling is not enough to achieve progressive and positive results. Aside from sessions of counseling, a patient that suffers from great depression attacks is given medications to soothe their nerves, help them gain more sleep and can alleviate their anxiety. These medications usually come in the form of anti-depressants like serotonin inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants that can also be used to help relieve certain types of pain related to depression attacks.
But now, there are public advisories that physicians, caregiver of patients, and parents of teens with behavior problems should be more cautious in giving teens dealing with depression antidepressants. They are encouraged to closely monitor the administration of antidepressants-particularly at the beginning of treatment or when there is a need to change the doses of the medication-in order to avoid the abuse of the antidepressant.
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Showing posts with label behavioral problems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label behavioral problems. Show all posts
Friday, 8 May 2015
Monday, 23 March 2015
Does Your Child Have Hyper-aggressive Behavioral Problem?
Our office allows their employees to bring their children from time to time to the office. Normally children act shyly at first but it's a given that they'll soon begin to roam around and explore things. Almost all of the women at the office have kids and at one time or another, they have already brought their kids to work. However, there is this child who stood differently among all the other kids. He tears up papers, he runs around, he slaps others, and sometimes he breaks things like calculators and staplers. He is constantly moving and doing different things. He disrupts everyone with his antics to get one's attention. One of our research consultants who happen to be a psychologist, too, asked the child's mom if the child behaves like that all the time. When the mom said yes, our research consultant suspected that the child has hyper-aggressive behavioral problem.
Hyper activism-aggressiveness is one of the major behavioral problems prevalent among children ages 5-11 years old (Pearson, Child Developmental Psychology). Children who have this behavioral problem are often violent with other people and do things hurriedly. They are often irritated and moody, have short attention span and ignore you when you call their attention. When parents observe these manifestations with their children, the best way to handle this situation is to be calm, understanding and open-minded.
The psychologist said the one way to handle children with this behavioral problem is to channel their hyper activism to sports and other creative activities. Let them exhaust that energy by doing sports, with the parents consistently encouraging them to excel in it. Make them watch documentary films that have slow pacing so that it may somehow influence and reduce their constant moving. Talk to the children and make them understand and empathize that hurting people is not good. Avoid hitting and spanking the child as this may be misinterpreted by the child as the proper way to deal with stress and mood swings. Physical abuse will only exacerbate the problem and will not help you in dealing with your child.
In severe occasions, a child with this behavioral problem won't listen to you. It would be all right if you make him stand at the corner without speaking to him and afterward explain to him the reasons why you did that. It is also best if you consult a psychologist for early detection and intervention.
But what causes this hyper activism-aggressiveness among children? Before you blame yourself, you must understand that there is no conclusive evidence that it is solely caused by genetics. A lot of experts in medical and psychological fields believe that genes only predispose one to have behavioral problems instead of directly causing the person to have it. Majority of the experts still believe that nature and nurture complete the equation of having behavioral problems.
Always remember that our children deserve unconditional love and understanding from their family. Deal with the situation by embracing it with an openness with which you'd be able to forego all negative reaction to the problem. And since this is the moment when your child needs support and care from other people, it'll be best to assure the child that he/she has the whole family behind her/his back.
Read more...
Hyper activism-aggressiveness is one of the major behavioral problems prevalent among children ages 5-11 years old (Pearson, Child Developmental Psychology). Children who have this behavioral problem are often violent with other people and do things hurriedly. They are often irritated and moody, have short attention span and ignore you when you call their attention. When parents observe these manifestations with their children, the best way to handle this situation is to be calm, understanding and open-minded.
The psychologist said the one way to handle children with this behavioral problem is to channel their hyper activism to sports and other creative activities. Let them exhaust that energy by doing sports, with the parents consistently encouraging them to excel in it. Make them watch documentary films that have slow pacing so that it may somehow influence and reduce their constant moving. Talk to the children and make them understand and empathize that hurting people is not good. Avoid hitting and spanking the child as this may be misinterpreted by the child as the proper way to deal with stress and mood swings. Physical abuse will only exacerbate the problem and will not help you in dealing with your child.
In severe occasions, a child with this behavioral problem won't listen to you. It would be all right if you make him stand at the corner without speaking to him and afterward explain to him the reasons why you did that. It is also best if you consult a psychologist for early detection and intervention.
But what causes this hyper activism-aggressiveness among children? Before you blame yourself, you must understand that there is no conclusive evidence that it is solely caused by genetics. A lot of experts in medical and psychological fields believe that genes only predispose one to have behavioral problems instead of directly causing the person to have it. Majority of the experts still believe that nature and nurture complete the equation of having behavioral problems.
Always remember that our children deserve unconditional love and understanding from their family. Deal with the situation by embracing it with an openness with which you'd be able to forego all negative reaction to the problem. And since this is the moment when your child needs support and care from other people, it'll be best to assure the child that he/she has the whole family behind her/his back.
Read more...
Friday, 23 January 2015
Parenting Tips: Dealing With Behavior Problems Among Children
Behavioral problems are among the most common issues of parents with their children. Behavioral problems can manifest in their habits, due to psychological disorders, and can affect social relationships. Parents need to understand the reason for their children's behavioral problems to help and encourage them.
Here are some common behavior issues that parents have to deal with:
• Psychological disorders
Psychological disorders can lead to anxiety, depression, aggression, and may affect the child's mental performance. This can be a result of a traumatic experience like an abuse or injury. It could also be due to sudden family changes or problems like divorce, illness or death.
Children may not show their response right away to traumatic events especially if it would involve separation or divorce, death or an addition to the family. When changes like these happen, it is important to encourage them to share their feelings. Changes should be explained to them prior to the event.
Children from different age levels would respond to traumatic events differently. In younger children, it could manifest in their sleeping and eating habits. Teens and young adults would often show changes in their social relationships with their families, friends, and school performance.
• Habits
Habits like thumb suckin, nail biting, hair pulling, hitting or biting themselves could be a response to situations where children may experience tension and pressure. To address these, parents should reinforce the child's positive development. Meanwhile, habits like thumb-sucking is better off ignored.
• Sleeping issues
Every child seems to have undergone sleeping/night-time problems, like nightmares, enuresis or bed wetting. For instance, about 20% of five years old wet their bed. By the time they reached 10 years old, the percentage is just 5%. About 2-3% of children bedwetters, wet their bed due to medical conditions and problems.
Bed wetting could be a result of diseases, small bladder, food allergies, hormonal imbalances, sleep apnea, constipation, social changes and stress. Nightmare is another night-time issue. It is important to talk to children who are suffering from sleeping problems.
For bedwetters, make sure that they feel assured that bed wetting is normal. Never humiliate or physically punish them for wetting the blankets. There are different treatment methods that parents could use to help resolve bed wetting like alarms, use of medication, schedules and of course, encouragement.
Night terrors, nightmares, sleep walking and sleep talking are other sleep problems. You could start by having a calming bedtime routine to settle down the children, assure and settle their fears. If sleeping problems continue and disrupting the child's activities, then there are sleep specialists and doctors who can help you.
• Eating problems
Children could be picky and they could end up not consuming the right amount of nutrition that they need. Eating problems could be refusing to eat, playing and not eating during meal time, and eating non-food items.
Children may refuse or dawdle when eating if they want attention, too pressured by the parents, eating time is not pleasant or they may be still full. It is important to plan their meals. For example, if they want to eat snack so close to lunch time, you could provide them small proportion of snacks which would still leave them interested to eat during lunch time. Make sure that there are no toys, television, and other disturbances during meal time.
Children could have eating disorders if they are dealing with complicated situations and emotions. Talk and reassure them. After all, they are still children, they are still confused with things and their feelings.
Another eating problem is when children eat non-food items. This disorder is called Pica. This disorder could be a result of nutritional deficiencies that target specific cravings, mental problems, parental neglect, or food deprivation.
It is normal for children to exhibit behavioral problems, since they are continuously learning and adjusting to their world. Changes, simple or drastic, could have a large impact on them that parents sometimes miss. Talking, encouragement, reassurance and professional help (if necessary) could help parents deal with these issues.
Read more...
Here are some common behavior issues that parents have to deal with:
• Psychological disorders
Psychological disorders can lead to anxiety, depression, aggression, and may affect the child's mental performance. This can be a result of a traumatic experience like an abuse or injury. It could also be due to sudden family changes or problems like divorce, illness or death.
Children may not show their response right away to traumatic events especially if it would involve separation or divorce, death or an addition to the family. When changes like these happen, it is important to encourage them to share their feelings. Changes should be explained to them prior to the event.
Children from different age levels would respond to traumatic events differently. In younger children, it could manifest in their sleeping and eating habits. Teens and young adults would often show changes in their social relationships with their families, friends, and school performance.
• Habits
Habits like thumb suckin, nail biting, hair pulling, hitting or biting themselves could be a response to situations where children may experience tension and pressure. To address these, parents should reinforce the child's positive development. Meanwhile, habits like thumb-sucking is better off ignored.
• Sleeping issues
Every child seems to have undergone sleeping/night-time problems, like nightmares, enuresis or bed wetting. For instance, about 20% of five years old wet their bed. By the time they reached 10 years old, the percentage is just 5%. About 2-3% of children bedwetters, wet their bed due to medical conditions and problems.
Bed wetting could be a result of diseases, small bladder, food allergies, hormonal imbalances, sleep apnea, constipation, social changes and stress. Nightmare is another night-time issue. It is important to talk to children who are suffering from sleeping problems.
For bedwetters, make sure that they feel assured that bed wetting is normal. Never humiliate or physically punish them for wetting the blankets. There are different treatment methods that parents could use to help resolve bed wetting like alarms, use of medication, schedules and of course, encouragement.
Night terrors, nightmares, sleep walking and sleep talking are other sleep problems. You could start by having a calming bedtime routine to settle down the children, assure and settle their fears. If sleeping problems continue and disrupting the child's activities, then there are sleep specialists and doctors who can help you.
• Eating problems
Children could be picky and they could end up not consuming the right amount of nutrition that they need. Eating problems could be refusing to eat, playing and not eating during meal time, and eating non-food items.
Children may refuse or dawdle when eating if they want attention, too pressured by the parents, eating time is not pleasant or they may be still full. It is important to plan their meals. For example, if they want to eat snack so close to lunch time, you could provide them small proportion of snacks which would still leave them interested to eat during lunch time. Make sure that there are no toys, television, and other disturbances during meal time.
Children could have eating disorders if they are dealing with complicated situations and emotions. Talk and reassure them. After all, they are still children, they are still confused with things and their feelings.
Another eating problem is when children eat non-food items. This disorder is called Pica. This disorder could be a result of nutritional deficiencies that target specific cravings, mental problems, parental neglect, or food deprivation.
It is normal for children to exhibit behavioral problems, since they are continuously learning and adjusting to their world. Changes, simple or drastic, could have a large impact on them that parents sometimes miss. Talking, encouragement, reassurance and professional help (if necessary) could help parents deal with these issues.
Read more...
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