Each child is unique. It can be difficult to tell if your little one needs counseling or is just behaving in an unusual but normal way. But, as a parent, you play a critical role in determining whether your child has a problem that merits professional attention. If you can recognize the signs of certain emotional conditions, you will know when to seek help.

In this day and age, help abounds, and as an empowered parent, you can always proactively seek professional help from a counselor or therapist. Being an empowered parent starts with knowledge.

Here are some facts to add to your knowledge about children’s emotional issues:

 Pediatric or Children’s Depression

That’s right: a child can get depressed—not the usual transient feelings of sadness or bad moods. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), “as many as one in 20 children and adolescents is depressed.” The post Six Things to Know About Child Depression enumerates six important facts that you must keep in mind:

• It’s more common than you think.
• Depression can run in the family.
• It’s often masked or mimicked by other problems.
• Irritability can be a major clue.
• Early diagnosis and treatment is key.
• The treatments for childhood depression are more complex than for adults.

To be able to help your child, learn the usual depressive symptoms and red flags, which, according to WebMD, could include:

• Irritability or anger
• Continuous feelings of sadness and hopelessness
• Social withdrawal
• Increased sensitivity to rejection
• Changes in appetite—either increased or decreased
• Changes in sleep—sleeplessness or excessive sleep
• Vocal outbursts or crying
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue and low energy
• Physical complaints (such as stomachaches, headaches) that don’t respond to treatment
• Reduced ability to function during events and activities at home or with friends, in school, at extracurricular activities, and in other hobbies or interests
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Impaired thinking or concentration
• Thoughts of death or suicide

2. Children’s Anxiety

Anxiety and Depression of America says that “anxiety is a normal part of childhood, and every child goes through phases. A phase is temporary and usually harmless. But children who suffer from an anxiety disorder experience fear, nervousness, and shyness, and they start to avoid places and activities.” Anxiety is an intrinsic human response that serves a critical biological function when there is an apparent danger. The response is characterized by physical and psychological “fight or flight” manifestations, which may include racing heartbeat, labored breathing, dizziness, shaky or clammy hands and feet, and difficulty focusing. While these manifestations are helpful in situations of real danger, your child’s health and development can suffer when anxiety has developed into a disorder.

You can better help your child to live without anxiety when you understand their symptoms, such as irritability, frequent crying, being clingy, having bad dreams, and/or wetting the bed. NHS Choices lists the following symptoms that may appear in older children:

• Lack the confidence to try new things or seem unable to face simple, everyday challenges
• Find it hard to concentrate
• Have problems with sleeping or eating
• Are prone to angry outbursts
• Have negative thoughts going round and round their head, or keep thinking that bad things are going to happen
• Start avoiding everyday activities, such as seeing friends, going out in public, or attending school

3. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD

ADHD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is a behavioral condition that is “marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with (the) functioning or development.” It is an important concern that affects about 10 percent of children. It can stand in the way of learning, which is why it is usually diagnosed when a child enters school, though it can affect them even at a younger age.

Children with ADHD are generally and noticeably inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive. These behavioral characteristics can put them in frequent trouble and make their life (and parenting them) more challenging. While inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are the key behaviors of ADHD, they are also common in normal children, especially when excited. Consult a therapist for diagnosis when you notice the symptoms or there are certain risk factors:

• Genes
• Cigarette smoking, alcohol use, or drug use during pregnancy
• Exposure to environmental toxins during pregnancy
• Exposure to environmental toxins, such as high levels of lead, at a young age
• Low birth weight
• Brain injuries

Empowering Parents: Points to Ponder

• These conditions are real and more common than you may realize. It isn’t safe to assume that your child’s extended sadness is a normal emotion, or that their excessive fear, inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity will dissipate as they grow older. These behaviors may get worse if they are part of a condition and the child goes without treatment.

• Emotional conditions can run in the family, but they may not be your child’s destiny. An example is depression. If you, your spouse, or both of you have been depressed, your children have a 25 percent (one depressed parent) to 75 percent (both parents are depressed) risk of experiencing a depressive episode. Despite the genetic predisposition, your child can still live a normal life in a healthy, nurturing environment with prompt diagnosis and treatment.

• Your child’s symptoms aren’t always easy to recognize. The signs of these conditions can be mimicked or masked by other health concerns. For instance, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can coexist with depression. An expert therapist can provide help in distinguishing the symptoms.

• Prompt and proper diagnosis and treatment are critical. It is always to your child’s advantage to receive prompt and proper diagnosis and treatment. Taking the symptoms for granted may lead to the worsening of the condition or its symptoms. These days, there are many ways to professionally assess your child’s emotional health; start by consulting a good therapist.

The Good News

Most of these conditions respond well to treatment, even when they are more complicated. However, because children are often unable to express their feelings well, helping a child can be more difficult. A good child therapist independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC, can provide the help they need. CCS-contracted therapists/counselors will not withhold help from your child, even if it means referring them to a psychiatrist when the use of medication is warranted.

Remember that emotional health is key for your child’s development and successful achievements in life. Without the help they require to regain normal functioning, they can grow into adolescence and adulthood with the “baggage” of an emotional condition. Love and care are critical, but if your child is weighed down by depression, anxiety, ADHD, or other conditions, they also need outside, professional help from a therapist contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC. Don’t hold back now—pick up that phone and call us for your child’s first appointment.

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