When children are young, parents often assume that mood swings and occasional temper tantrums are normal behavior. However, if these behavioral issues persist well into adolescence, it may indicate that the person has a mental health disorder.
Here are some signs that your child might be going through mental health problems:
1. Lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed
A child who is suffering from mental illness may suddenly lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, such as sports or music lessons. They may also stop playing with their friends and become withdrawn. So, If your child used to love going to the park and now refuses to go, this may be a sign of depression. If they used to enjoy playing with their friends but now avoid them, this is another red flag.
2. Sudden change in sleep patterns
Mental illness can affect sleep, causing insomnia or oversleeping. Depression can make you feel tired all day long, even when you've had plenty of sleep; anxiety makes it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep at night. If your child seems unusually sleepy or unrested at different times during the day, this could be a sign that something is wrong with their mental health.
3. A change in eating habits (either eating more or less than usual)
If your child suddenly starts gaining weight due to overeating and/or not being able to stop eating certain foods, this may be a sign of an eating disorder. Conversely, if your child starts losing weight due to undereating and/or purging (vomiting), it could indicate an eating disorder as well.
4. Avoidance of eye contact with others
If your child seems uncomfortable making eye contact with people they know well (family members, teachers) and instead keeps their head down or turns away when they're in conversation with them, this could be a sign of social anxiety disorder or another form of social phobia.
5. Excessive worries about school performance or grades
While some children worry about school performance, those who have an anxiety disorder tend to worry excessively about how well they will do on tests and assignments by anticipating failure before the test even begins. Children who suffer from depression often worry about their ability to complete tasks successfully.
6. Social withdrawal (avoiding social activities with friends or family members)
A child who is not socializing with other children and prefers to stay at home alone or with their parents might be suffering from mental illness. These children often do not like to make friends and prefer to be alone.
7. Irritability
Children suffering from mental illnesses often exhibit irritability on different occasions which makes them respond in an inappropriate manner toward others and causes conflicts among themselves as well as people around them.
8. Poor performance at school
If your child is failing classes or not doing well, this can be a sign that something else is going on. It could mean that they have trouble focusing on their studies or it could mean that they're not getting along with their peers. This could be a good indication of anxiety, depression or other mental health problems.
Takeaway
If your child is showing any of these signs, it's important you get them professional help. You can seek the best psychological counseling online. Find an experienced doctor, ask them more questions during online psychologist consultation, and start the treatment process. Early intervention can make all the difference.
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