You may not know children can also develop the same mental health conditions as adults. Yes, that is true. However, their symptoms are slightly different than adults. Mental disorders among children can be described as a change in their behavior, the way they learn or handle their emotions.
According to science, the warning signs for psychiatric illness in children is differentiated from their behavior and how long the behavior lasts. Believe it or not, mental health problems in children are real, common, but the good news is that they are treatable sometime. If untreated, these mental health problems can disrupt children’s functioning and put them at the increased risk of contact with criminal justice, dependence on social services, and even suicide. Some of the most common childhood mental disorders are mentioned below for your knowledge:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Autism is known to be a serious developmental disorder, which appears in early childhood. The symptoms and severity may vary, and autism affects a child's ability to communicate and interact with others.
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder): Children suffering from this disorder are generally hyperactive in nature and have trouble controlling their impulses or paying attention. ADHD in children is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder.
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder: ODD is a disorder in which children act out persistently and it causes serious problems at home, in school, or with other children. Children with ODD act defiant around people they know well. Being angry or losing temper or arguing with adults or being resentful or spiteful are some of the symptoms of ODD.
- Tourette Syndrome (TS): Tourette Syndrome causes children to have “tics”, which means they cannot control doing sudden twitches, movements, or sounds.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: One of the most common problems seen in adults and children is OCD. Children with OCD have unwanted thoughts that they feel a need to respond to. This behavior is so common that it is difficult to tell the difference between normal children and children suffering from obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
If you see any of the signs of disorder in your kids, immediately consult the specialist.
