Raising Mentally Stable Kids

by Gwen Schrank

A child’s mental health is, without a doubt, the most important aspect of their social and cognitive development.

Children need to have good mental health if they are going to live up to their full potential and live a life that is filled with positive experiences. It affects their willingness to do what is best for themselves and the people around them.

Even under the best of circumstances, it can be difficult to tell the difference between challenging behaviors and emotions consistent with typical child development and those that are cause for concern.

According to Kids Mental Health Informational Portal, there are a myriad of factors that can impact a child’s mental health status—both positively and negatively. Providing children with an environment that demonstrates love, compassion, trust, and understanding will greatly impact a child, helping them to build on these stepping stones to create a productive lifestyle. Many children do not live in that type of setting, though. Many children deal with a childhood that is filled with angst, resentment, hatred, distrust, and constant negativity.

They have a difficult time coping with their emotions. These children can make excellent candidates for mental health

programs.

It’s a diffuser process for any person, let alone a child, to overcome such adversity. However, being proactive and doing all that you can for the child will at least help their mental health in some positive fashion.

Children with mental health issues will have a difficult time acclimating to different situations. Studies have shown that these children, if left untreated by a mental health professional, will likely grow up and repeat these same behaviors with their children. These children tend to have a lower self-worth, negative feelings, perform poorly in school, and later become involved in unhealthy lifestyle decisions. However, when these children are properly treated, they can learn how to live a more promising life. They can overcome many of the issues that affected them without their consent. These children can live happy and productive lives that are filled with love, harmony, and solid mental health.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, young children may benefit from an evaluation and treatment if they:

They also state that older children and adolescents may benefit from an evaluation if they:

• Have frequent tantrums or are intensely irritable much of the time • Often talk about fears or worries • Complain about frequent stomach aches or headaches with no known medical cause • Are in constant motion and cannot sit quietly (except when they are watching videos or playing video games) • Sleep too much or too little, have frequent nightmares, or seem sleepy during the day • Are not interested in playing with other children or have difficulty making friends • Struggle academically or have experienced a recent decline in grades • Repeat actions or check people and things around them many times out of fear that something bad may happen

• Have lost interest in things that they used to enjoy • Have low energy • Sleep too much or too little, or seem sleepy throughout the day • Are spending more and more time alone, and avoid social activities with friends or family • Fear gaining weight, or diet and/or exercise excessively • Engage in self-harm behaviors (i.e. cutting or burning their skin) • Smoke, drink, or use drugs • Engage in risky or destructive behavior alone or with friends • Have thoughts of suicide • Have periods of highly elevated energy and activity, and require much less sleep than usual

It is easy to empathize with suffering we can see: a child who has lost hair as a result of chemotherapy, for instance. The suffering of a child with psychiatric issues is far less obvious. Many children and teens with emotional problems keep their pain secret. Others express their feelings in risky or offensive ways. Due largely to stigma, there is also fear, shame, and misunderstanding about mental illness, which is why the majority never receive clinical care.

Dr. Harold Koplewicz discovered and wants people to know the three myths about childhood mental health.

Myth 1: A child with a psychiatric disorder is damaged for life. Truth: When a child’s struggles are recognized and treated, there is a good chance of managing or overcoming symptoms and developing into healthy habits.

Myth 2: Psychiatric problems result from personal weakness. Truth: Psychiatric disorder is an illness, just like diabetes or leukemia, and not a personality type. We can’t expect children and teens to have the tools to overcome these challenges on their own, but they can recover with effective diagnosis and a treatment plan.

Myth 3: Psychiatric disorders result from bad parenting. Truth: While a child’s home environment and relationships with his parents can exacerbate a psychiatric disorder, these things don’t cause the disorder. Things like anxiety, depression, autism, and learning disorders are thought to have biological causes. However, parents play a central role in providing support and care that is crucial to their child’s recovery. With that said, go hug your babies and be thankful for the blessings that they are.

The best thing that you can do for your children and family is to find ways to man-

1. Stop over-scheduling 2. Make time for play 3. Make sleep a priority 4. Teach your kids to listen to their bodies 5. Manage your own stress 6. Make mornings calmer 7. Prepare your kids to deal with mistakes

It is very important to pay attention to your child’s behaviors, feelings, and emotions, and to trust your instincts as a parent. If you find yourself over-analyzing your child’s habits, don’t hesitate to talk to their pediatrician. It’s one of those better safe than sorry things. The earlier your child is diagnosed, the quicker they’ll have a treatment plan to help them manage their struggles. Myths are flying around about mental health because there is a whole lot of information out there. Again, trust your instincts as a parent. No one loves your child like you do.

Last, but not least, working toward having a less stressful life helps everyone in your family. This is always a good thing to seek out and practice.

“I feel the most confident when Im with my friends and family” -Kayla