Children with Anxiety at School

December 6, 2010 by Leave a Comment

If a child is suffering from an anxiety disorder school can quite often be very difficult. A refusal to even go to school may be a sign of a common anxiety disorder called separation anxiety. While separation anxiety is fairly common in small children between the ages of six months up to when they are about three years old, it is not as common in older children.

The anxiety about going to school for older children may be attributed to several factors. They could be anxious about their performance in class or the social interaction with the other kids. Children with special needs also many have a hard time understanding what is expected. The anxiety commonly shows up in physical ailments. A child may start complaining of headaches or stomachaches in order to stay home. It is also common for children with school anxiety to go to the nurses office frequently with physical problems with a request to go home.

It is important to first make sure there is nothing physically wrong with your child. Once you know they are healthy, you need to acknowledge that there is a problem. You then need to get to the root of the anxiety. Find out what they are most worried about. If they can pinpoint what they are anxious about it will be easier to deal with the problem.

Once you have a specific anxiety to work with you can help them by do some role-playing. You can talk about scenarios that might happen at school and then act them out to help the child with appropriate responses and techniques for coping with the events that are causing them anxiety.

It is also extremely important to keep communicating with your child. Make sure they know that they can talk to you about what is going on at school.

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An Overview of Dissociative Disorders

October 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Dissociative disorders are what happens when someone takes normal, relatively healthy escapism and it goes way too far. Usually, dissociative disorders are defense mechanisms that people have developed to cope with trauma and distance themselves from painful memories and emotions. Dissociative disorders are treated with a variety of tactics. While dissociative disorders are difficult to treat, there are many success stories, and many individuals who function fairly well despite still having the disorders. The major dissociative disorders are dissociative fugue, dissociative amnesia, dissociative identity disorder, and depersonalization disorder.

Common symptoms of dissociative disorders include partial memory loss, depression, and anxiety. Dissociative disorders are usually developed out of childhood trauma, most often a home environment that is very frightening and/or unpredictable for one reason or another. Potential causes include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; natural disasters, invasive medical procedures, or torture. In much more rare instances, an adult may develop a disorder like this after severe trauma. As with many disorders that develop in the wake of traumatic events, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible after trauma to prevent a full blown disorder from developing.

Dissociative disorders are also associated with a number of other psychological problems and disorders, including self-mutilation, anxiety disorders, extremely bad headaches, sexual dysfunction(including avoidance or addiction), sleep disorders, eating disorders, and serious problems with having relationships or a career. Dissociative reactions can cause others to think the individual suffering from the disorder is unreliable. Usually the person with a dissociative disorder has a great deal of difficulty dealing with stress in relationships or professional situations.

The main treatment used for dissociative disorders is therapy. Cognitive therapy, psychotherapy, and art therapy are all common modes of treatment. Drugs or hypnosis may also be used, but if you choose to undergo hypnosis, it’s very important to find a competent therapist who will be careful about the possibility of implanting false memories.

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Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

October 20, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Childhood disintegrative disorder is also known as Heller’s syndrome, and it is an autistic spectrum disorder. With this particular autistic spectrum disorder, a child will develop on schedule until they are two to four years old, and then suffer a severe regression in social skills, communication skills, and some other faculties. In contrast to autism, childhood disintegrative disorder tends to present itself later than autism and involve a more dramatic regression in development. It’s also less common than autism. Treatment can involve medication and a variety of behavioral therapies.

When children have childhood disintegrative disorder, they loose skills in at least two major arenas. Potential areas of skill loss include language skills, ability to play, motor skills, social skills, and bowel control. This traveling backwards through development can happen in as little as a few days, or can take months. Any loss of established development is cause to worry about a child’s health, and you should consult your doctor about it if you see any of these symptoms in your child. If you go to the doctor to ask about symptoms of childhood disintegrative disorder, try to make sure you have a clear record with you of all the symptoms and regressions you have witnessed. The records of developmental screenings from at well-child visits will be invaluable here.

The cause of childhood disintegrative disorder is unknown. There is likely a genetic factor, and some speculate that the disintegration is caused by an autoimmune response, in which the body attacks itself. The disorder may be caused by a gene that must be triggered by exposure to something in the environment, like a toxin. Childhood disintegrative disorder is often found alongside several other conditions, including lipid storage diseases and tuberous sclerosis, in which benign brain tumors grow. However, the causative relationship between these disorders is unknown.

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder

October 20, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Generalized anxiety disorder can start in childhood or adulthood, but often it starts when the person who suffers from it is very young. Medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, and various other coping skills can reduce the impact of generalized anxiety disorder. The severity of the disorder, and the particular symptoms manifest, can vary a lot from case to case. Some symptoms include constant worry, fatigue, restlessness, insomnia, sweating and stomach problems, and tachycardia. People who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder may feel anxious even when they aren’t worried about anything in particular. Many people with generalized anxiety disorder simply never feel relaxed.

This disorder is difficult to treat, and relapses are especially common in times of stress. It may be possible to relieve the anxiety, but that relief may require the patient to remain in treatment to be maintained. Generalized anxiety disorder often coexists with other mental disorders, such as mood disorders or clinical depression. Children who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder may worry about anything from natural disasters or their performance in school. Often such children will be perfectionist and especially anxious for peer approval. It may be easier to treat anxiety disorders if treatment is started early in the course of the disorder. Causes of generalized anxiety disorder are not well understood, but probably include both environmental and genetic factors.

Women are more than twice as likely to have this disorder as men are, and certain personality types are at much greater risk than others. Childhood trauma and abuse are risk factors, and so are severe illness, substance abuse, and severe stress. Generalized anxiety disorder can exacerbate or cause depression and insomnia, as well as substance abuse problems, headaches, and digestive problems. Medications used to treat the disorder include anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications. Recommended lifestyle changes may involve being very careful about sleep, diet, and regular exercise.

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An Overview of Personality Disorders

October 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Personality disorders are mental illnesses wherein the sufferer has accurately understanding situations and relating to people–including his or her self. Generally, personality disorders entail rigid patterns of thought and behavior, rather than adaptability to various situations. Common symptoms include poor impulse control, social isolation, substance abuse, frequent mood changes, a strong mistrust of other people, and a focus on instant gratification. Personality disorders are grouped into three clusters, based on symptomatology. Many people who suffer from one personality disorder have at least some overlapping symptoms with another disorder.

Cluster A personality disorders are characterized by eccentric patterns of thought and behavior. They include paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder. Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by the over-influence of drama and strong emotion. They include antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder. Lastly, cluster C personality disorders are heavily characterized by anxiety. They include avoidant personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, and obsessive compulsive personality disorder. Obsessive compulsive personality disorder isn’t to be confused as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which is classed as an anxiety disorder, not a personality disorder.

Personality forms during childhood, and is based on a combination of genetic and experiential factors. As with many psychological disorders, it is thought likely that individuals with personality disorders were born with the genes that made their disorders possible, and then experienced environmental situations which caused the disorders to actually happen. Personality disorders are thought to generally start in childhood, but are seldom diagnosed in childhood for fear of misdiagnosing based on something that is merely a phase. Risk factors for these disorders include a family history of mental illness, a chaotic or unstable early home, loss of one or both parents at a young age, poverty, neglect, and physical, sexual, or emotional abuse during childhood. Personality disorders can cause or compound numerous other problems, including disordered eating, depression, and child abuse.

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Unconventional Ways of Dealing With Depression

October 16, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Major depressive disorder wreaks havoc on individuals, families, and futures. On top of this, it is grotesquely unpleasant to experience. If you are unable to enjoy things you once loved, are obsessed with self hatred, have disturbed sleep patterns, and think often about suicide, there’s a great chance you have major depressive disorder. If this is the case, please, please seek help. If you have only some of these symptoms, you may still want to get yourself checked out. There are even many community clinics and free hotlines to make help available to those who think they can’t afford it. However, if you find yourself truly without other options, or (more likely) if your depression is of a milder breed, here are some scientifically researched methods for helping you climb out of your rut.

1) Reduce stress. Some depression is chemical, but much of it is acute depression–or in other words, a reasonable response to very trying circumstances. Mild depression can usually be improved by reducing pressure from long-term stressors in your life and then having a little patience. Take a close look at your time management and your money management. If you possibly can, make sure you have a little of each to spend on yourself.

2) Invest in friends. Research shows that even people who think of themselves as loners are happier in company. Make the time to make good friends, and to be a good friend; to meet friends, sit in on classes or join groups that deal in things that interest you. Or, volunteer.

3) Invest in pets. There’s a reason they’ve started using these to help cheer up cancer patients and calm down autistic kids.

4) Give service or do something hard. It will help you appreciate yourself, and build self respect. Particularly if you volunteer, it will help other people appreciate you too. This is an old standby of ecclesiastical counseling that therapists have started recommending too.

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An Overview of Adjustment Disorders

October 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Adjustment disorders are a class of stress-based mental illnesses. Common symptoms are anxiety, difficulty concentrating, nervousness, sadness, insomnia, impulsive or apathetic behavior, and depression. Severe cases may be suicidal. When symptoms of an adjustment disorder go on for six months or less, the disorder is considered to be acute. When symptoms of one of these disorders goes on for longer than six months, it’s considered to be chronic. When someone is suffering from an adjustment disorder, the stress from a difficult transition has a major impact on parts of their life that, at first glance, have little to do with that transition.

Adjustment disorders manifest differently in adolescents. In adults, adjustment disorders can often be treated successfully in only months; for teenagers, the time span is often longer. Adolescent males tend to experience adjustment disorders at equal rates to adolescent females. By contrast, among adults males account for only fifty percent of the cases. Co-morbidity is different among adolescents as well; teenagers with adjustment disorders are at risk for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. In contrast, adults with adjustment disorders are at risk for depression, suicidal behavior, and substance abuse.

Like most mental illnesses, the causes of adjustment disorders are thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors include difficult life experience, experience with war and extreme violence, and mental health problems besides attachment disorders. People with poor coping skills and/or a weak social support network are far more likely to develop an adjustment disorder. Events that might trigger the onset of an adjustment disorder include retirement, physical assault, divorce, the death of a loved one, a natural disaster, or anything else that constitutes a major life change. There are six forms of adjustment disorder. Adjustment disorders are typically treated with a combination of therapy and medication.

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Depersonalization Disorder

October 12, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Depersonalization disorder is based on a certain sense of distance from one’s own person. Individuals who suffer from this disorder feel like things around them aren’t real. Sometimes they have the sensation that they’re observing themselves from outside the confines of their own bodies. The sensations of depersonalization are described as both dreamlike and disturbing; they include a sense of detachment from one’s own actions, and a strong emotional disconnect from people the patient is close to. There will often be a sense that one’s body parts are distorted, and There can be a sense of loosing one’s grip on reality, although individuals who suffer from depersonalization disorder do know that the sensations they are experiencing aren’t real.

Experiences of depersonalization are commonplace, but for most people they pass. For people who suffer from depersonalization disorder, these sensations are repeating, or they may not ever leave. They are also emotionally problematic, and they’re severe enough to interfere with relationships, careers, and daily life. Depersonalization experiences can actually be triggered by the fear of depersonalization experiences. They can also occur with no trigger at all, or they might be triggered by an event that’s perceived as life-threatening. Depersonalization disorder is strongly correlated with schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety disorders.

People are at an increased risk of depersonalization disorder if they’ve seen or been in a life threatening experience. It’s also a disorder that seems to strike primarily young adults, starting as young as the late teens; cases with children or older adults are rare. Depersonalization disorder can make someone afraid to be alone, and very clingy with those they trust. It can also make those who suffer from it afraid to leave home, and create serious problems when they try to focus or concentrate. Like most psychological disorders, depersonalization disorder is usually treated with counseling and medication.

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On Teaching Your Children to Eat

September 20, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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With both obesity and eating disorders as major health problems in our society, it’s possible that there’s never been a more stressful time to teach your children how to feed themselves. While research clearly shows that people with a moderate BMI tend to be healthier, attempts to force bodies into that moderate BMI range have met with remarkably poor long term success. If you’ve struggled to find balance in your eating habits, but don’t want to pass those struggles down to your children, the work of Ellyn Satter might be for you.

Satter is little known among the public at large, but among nutritionists she’s considered an expert on eating habits and feeding patterns, which she has written several books about. She advocates for “normal eating” and “eating competence.” She says that in raising children, we should mostly be trying to create competent eaters. Eating competence has four parts. First, advocate positive attitudes towards food, rather than emphasizing deprivation. Second, make sure you make time for rewarding, reliably scheduled meals and snacks. Third, enjoy eating, and feel free to relax about eating foods that really bring you pleasure to eat. Lastly, allow your body to tell you how much to eat with its natural signals of hunger and fullness. Doesn’t that sound better than any diet you have ever been on? Satter has touched on something many of us seem to have completely forgotten. Maybe feeding yourself doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful to be healthy.

Satter doesn’t ask us to abandon discipline in how we eat, but she does ask that discipline be funneled into keeping a regular schedule, rather than creating an exclusive lists of foods we may or may not eat. She’s also very clear about what responsibilities belong to a parent, and which belong to a child. Parents decide what, where, and when to feed; kids are in charge of whether and how much. For more ways to help your kids have a healthy relationship with food, check out Satter’s book Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family.

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Introducing Aspergers

September 20, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Ever since the non-profit organization Austism Speaks came onto the national scene, many people have become more aware of the prevalence of autism in the US. Unfortunately, as awareness has gone up there has also been a lot of confusion. If you read much about autism, you will soon encounter the term “autistic spectrum.” The autistic spectrum refers to the variety of different symptoms and disorders to be found among autistic individuals. Autistic people range from being highly functional, contributing members of society who are well respected in their field of work, to not being able to communicate or care for themselves in basic ways. The most common disorders on the “lighter” end of the spectrum are Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), and Asperger’s Syndrome–AS.

Aspergers syndrome is an autistic spectrum disorder characterized most strongly by two things. The first is a narrow, intense range of interests. People with Aspergers disorder often talk about their obsessions–which can be anything from mathematics, to fantasy stories, to dance, to model trains. The point is, for someone with Asperger’s syndrome, it can be very hard to focus on things outside of whatever their narrow range of interest happens to be. The second main characteristic of Asperger’s Syndrome is that they have great difficulty with social interaction. In particular, the tend to have profound difficulty picking up on social cues, and following the unwritten social codes that come naturally to most of us.

Support services for people with Asperger’s syndrome can be hard to come by. Unlike with more severe forms of autism, it is not always clear when a person who has Asperger’s is being effected by the disorder. Some people also speculate that girls with Asperger’s behave differently than boys who have it, and therefore remain under-diagnosed as a population. Even when it is clear that a person with Asperger’s is in need of services, it can be difficult for support workers to understand what’s needed.

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