Add comment April 3rd, 2009

Warning Signs of Childhood Mental Illness

 

Mikey’s mother realized there was something different about Mikey very early on.  He was fussier that her first child, and began having severe temper tantrums at age 2.  He was not comforted easily and whined and cried easier than most 2 year olds.  The older he got the more extreme these behaviors became.  In addition, he became extremely rigid and inflexible, any change in routine could set off a temper tantrum that could last an hour.

 

While Mikey’s problems were noticed at an early age, seeing the warning signs of mental illness is not always that clear cut.  If you remember in my first article I said that mental illness is a disorder in thought, mood or behavior that is abnormal for the developmental stage of the person and causes distress in her life and those around her.  In order to see warning signs, we need to know what is developmentally appropriate for a given child in terms of their behavior, cognitions, and moods.  For example, it is normal for a 3 or 4 year old to have an imaginary friend whom he talks to and plays with.  It is not normal for a 11 year old to have an imaginary friend whom he talks to and plays with.  In an 11 year old, this would be a cause for concern.

 

Some general guidelines around things to watch for include the following:

• Sad or hopeless for no reason
• Angry most of the time and over-reactive
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, anxiety or worry
• Unable to get over the loss of an important person
• Fears out of proportion to the threat
• Feeling that her mind is being controlled or out of control
• Declining performance in school
• Losing interest in things once enjoyed
• Unexplained changes in sleeping or eating habits
• Avoiding friends and family, wishing to be alone most of the time
• Hearing voices that cannot be explained.
• Experiencing suicidal thoughts
• Poor concentration or decision making
• Inability to sit still, be quiet, or focus attention
• Obsessive or compulsive behaviors
• Racing thoughts
• Persistent Nightmares
• Using alcohol or drugs
• Anxiety upon being separated from a parent or caregiver
• Dieting or exercising excessively
• Violating the rights of others
• Firesetting
• Harming animals
• Harming self through cutting or other damage causing behaviors
• Extreme risk taking behaviors

 

While not exhaustive, this list is a sample of the types of things to watch for.  If your child has some of these behaviors, you may want to find mental health services for your child—at least an assessment.  The best way to find appropriate mental health services is to:

• Get accurate information from hotlines, libraries, or other sources
• Seek referrals from professionals
• Talk to other families in your community
• Find family network organizations
• Ask questions about treatments and services
• Find out if there is a local NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) chapter near you.

 

You may also call the

Health
Information
Center of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-789-2647.

 

In our next blog, we will take a look at the most frequently diagnoses behavior disorder / mental illness in kids:  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder