Problem Child? The Appearance of Behavioral Issues in Kids
If you are on edge and can’t focus at work because you are waiting for the call from school or if you are worried your child is coming home sad or angry, you know what’s like to have a child with a behavioral or adjustment problem. School behavior problems develop for various reasons, but typically they are related to some underlying mental health problem or stresses in the home and/or social environment that overpower their ability to cope.
COMMON ISSUES:
High levels of conflict in the home due possible separation, economic problems, introduction of new family members, parental addiction, mental or physical health problems.
Having poor social skills, social anxiety, lots of social pressure, low self-esteem or being different due to a disability
Academic underachievement and not receiving the necessary support
ADHD, depression, anxiety, or the effects of trauma
Limited coping skills to express feelings of hurt or anger
WHAT YOU CAN DO?
Family therapy can help youth deal with changes in the household by giving them the space to be validated and heard by adults. If not understood by their caregivers, youth can do self-sabotaging behavior at school to get “even” or call attention to parents—negative attention can be better than none. Having low self-confidence and poor social skills, can lead to children being excluded and often bullied. This can create the child to take out their feelings of resentment and hurt through acting out. Poor social skills can lead your child to not take risks (e.g. starting a new activity) which can lead to isolation and pain. Academic underachievement can result in a young person giving up and not focusing on their work. With time on their hands, children get bored and often act out. This serves to get attention (negative), frequently as a way of saying they are not well and need help. Individual and group therapy can help with the abovementioned problems as well.
WHAT DO THE NUMBERS SAY?
When a teacher says your child is hyperactive, has difficulties paying attention, and misbehaves, professionals can be quick to say the child has ADHD, however, remember 11% of youth have a mood disorder (e.g. depression). 10% of youth have a behavior or conduct disorder (e.g. ADHD); and 8% of youth have an anxiety disorder ( e.g., social anxiety, PTSD). (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2017). 20% of youth ages 13-18 live with a mental health condition.
Most mental health problems children suffer from mimic a handful of ADHD symptoms.
WHAT’S OFTEN LACKING?
Healthy coping skills are something all children need to develop to reach normal development and deal with adversity and create resilience. Sometimes youth use hitting or verbal disrespect to deal with feelings of frustration. Youth often cope with feeling of isolation and boredom by becoming addicted to electronics. Teenagers can turn to substances to help alleviate difficult feelings. Sometimes children are hard on themselves in order to motivate academic or social success—this has the exact opposite effect, typically. Having healthy thoughts about oneself is fundamental to a good self-esteem and normal social/emotional growth.