Parenting has never been easy, I mean this is the one game where the rules seem to change every day. Today you shouldn’t be too easy on kids – tomorrow you are not supposed to discipline them too much. The task has been complicated as it is, but the overwhelming infusion of gadgets and social media protocols together make it close to impossible. Understanding the kids these days now equates to a snowball’s chance in hell.
How is then one supposed to decipher their tantrums and mood emoticons? How is a parent supposed to know if the child is irritated because that is how teenagers behave these days or is it on account of mental anxiety? As a parent how can one try and understand the kid who refuses to communicate? Is there a key to understanding the problems at least? If not the solution, is there a way to know the symptoms of mental anxiety among kids?
Possible signs of anxiety and depression in children
- Social anxiety – It has been observed that often kids, on account of their insecurities, tend to be more comfortable in a shell. The idea of meeting anybody new or talking in a group makes them uncomfortable. However, instead of accepting and discussing this discomfort, the child resorts to evasion tactics like rude behavior and seclusion. Even a simple social event like perhaps attending a family dinner is tackled like a war. Thousands of made up issues like ‘I don’t have a decent dress’ or ‘your family is irritating’ echo around the house. Tension escalates in the hours leading up to the event. Frantic outbursts and teary conversations on random topics define the mood.
- Physical indications of mental anxiety – Believe it or not, unexpressed uneasiness takes the physical route of expression. If you notice a sudden change in eating habits or signs of overeating or excessive reduction in diet, know that your child is perhaps in a psychological conundrum. Likewise, a disturbed sleeping schedule reeks of mental troubles. Cases of depression have been reported where the child slept for more than 15 hours a day and still seemed tired. In extreme cases, anxiety also led to complaints of feeling sick or constant itchiness. Constant restlessness – Urge to move every few seconds is yet another physical indication of anxiety.
- Complete shutdown – If the only communication in the past few days has been in the form of slammed doors and cryptic WhatsApp messages, the child is clearly battling an inner panic. However, instead of talking about it or even accepting it, is resorting to evasive techniques. Instead of just observing these demonstrations as rudeness, try to peel the layers and look inside the trauma.
There could be many reasons leading to the above mentioned situations. Teenagers could be dealing with their changing appearances or could be victims of bullying. Death of a close one or an unexpected tiff with a close friend, reasons may vary. However, the problem of anxiety in kids is quite serious and in severe cases could also lead to self-harm and thus needs to be addressed. Kids might hide their true feelings behind a brattish attitude and thus establishing a strong communication channel is the foremost step.