Childhood problems; It covers problems seen in children according to their age range. Problems seen in children during this period should be solved with a specialist.
What are Childhood Problems?
- Tic Disorders in Children,
- The Effect of Bedwetting, Family Structure and Marital (Mother-Father) Relationship on the Child,
- Sexual Identity Development in Children,
- Developmental Assessment,
- Stuttering
- Learning Disability,
- Problems such as School Phobia are among childhood problems.
What is the Importance of Treatment for Childhood Problems?
It is the most critical period until the school period, such as 2-7 years of age. It is also important in terms of being the period when the foundations of personality are laid and the reactions appear most clearly. Again, modeling is very important in this period. This is the period when learning takes place intensively, the first steps of the child's individualization are taken, and socialization takes place. Therefore, parents should pay close attention to this critical period. In order to overcome childhood problems, the family should take part in the therapy.
What are the Causes of Depression among Childhood Problems?
There is dependency of the mother or caregiver on the child. We say 'children are over-dependent', but the real dependency here is the dependency of the caregiver. Anxious people, over-dependent people create the same picture in the child. The attitudes of the mother and father pave the way for childhood problems.
For example, if the mother thinks that her child will be harmed, if she doesn't want her child to go through what she went through, she treats the child differently. If she is separated from her husband, she reflects her experiences there to the relationship and treats the child as if she is raising him/her in a copper fan. The child cannot acquire skills because of these behaviors. When children raised in this way are left on their own, they do not know what to do without someone guiding them. Since these children cannot become individuals, they lack self-confidence. The child's lack of self-confidence is related to the mother or caregivers.
Depression that occurs by letting yourself go
Adolescence is the second individuation and the fastest development after infancy. Adolescents are forced to adapt, they need to adapt in terms of social roles, friend relations, family position, relationships. Adolescents are forced to restructure their personality in this period. Against so many demands of the world, these children are candidates to be fragile in adolescence. Mothers who raise dependent children cause this. Because these children are lazy. Adolescents become more withdrawn. Self-abandonment is very typical in adolescent depression. Appetite is impaired. There is a lot of fighting.
Separation Anxiety in Children
Children raised by a dependent mother or caregiver may experience separation anxiety. These children do not want to go to school and cry all the time. Childhood problems are caused by misbehavior and fears. This creates problems in school adaptation. It causes school failure. Children who grow up with dependent mothers or caregivers develop behaviors such as not participating in activities and aggressive behavior. Depression can develop in the child as a result of all this. Psychiatric help is often needed for children in this situation. We believe that the child should definitely receive psychotherapy. Psychotherapy has a positive effect on childhood problems.
Behavioral Problems of Children
- Bedwetting
- Fecal incontinence
- Finger sucking
- Somatic complaints,
- Nausea
- Crying
- Masturbation is seen intensely.
In our clinical studies, we observe that families experience a lot of anxiety about masturbation. It is important for the child to explore his/her body from the early stages. If this behavior is not intense, it is not a problem. We should not create guilt, if it is intense, there is a problem and help should be sought. Behaviors such as losing some of the skills they have gained, i.e. regression, inability to eat, help from the mother can also be seen.
The child holds himself/herself responsible for arguments at home
If there is stress at home, if there are outbursts of anger, the child feels guilty. Children hold themselves responsible for the problems they experience. The child behaves this way because they think concretely. Fights about themselves also cause feelings of guilt. This leads to childhood problems. In addition, disciplinary differences between parents can also create conflict in the child. In cases where impulsivity is intense, the child receives frequent warnings because he/she has difficulty controlling himself/herself. For this reason, adaptation problems arise and depression may develop again.
'My child is very angry and does not want to go to school'
The child is unmanageable, very irritable, we can't get them to do their daily chores, they don't want to go to school, they hurt their sibling a lot, they have attention and concentration disorders, their school success and quality of life decreases. It happens more intensely during the period of starting primary school. It can manifest as fear of being alone, insecurity, shyness or aggressiveness. In fact, fears in children are normal and necessary for the development of defense mechanisms. However, if there are triggers, such as addiction, insecurity, trauma, and if these issues are talked about a lot, the child experiences intense fears. This triggers depression. Childhood problems should be well identified and treated at this point.
Problems in School Period
This period is around the age of 8-11. Primary school is the child's first regulated environment. Kindergarten is a little more play-oriented. With primary school, the child enters a socialization environment with rules. This is a period in which the child demonstrates his/her performance and learning skills. Even if the child's intelligence is high here, if he/she has adaptation problems or realizes that he/she cannot learn, if he/she has problems such as hyperactivity, learning difficulties, adaptation problems, interest in other things, inability to maintain attention can be seen over time.
Some techniques are needed to store and recall information. If his sibling is at home, he is jealous of him. If he/she is impulsive, there are also problems with adaptation. In some cases, obsessions may occur. If there is a ground for obsessions in the family, this becomes more evident in the child in case of stress. Obsessions such as being too interested in his/her clothes, choosing food, smelling develop
Adolescence is Experienced at Extremes
Adolescence is the period up to the age of 16. In general, this is a period that needs to be discussed on its own. It is also a period in which the family loses its importance, the environment gains more importance and the adolescent experiences extreme emotions. He experiences joys, fears, anger and sadness at their extremes. Especially if he/she was raised dependent, the problem becomes even bigger. If they were protected and cared for, reactions and outbursts against the family are high in this period because the child wants to individualize, but when the family cannot let go of those attitudes, serious conflicts occur.
Mother Attachment Disorder
A child who is not emotionally comfortable in the first three years cannot develop. The development of a child who cannot be emotionally nourished is also hindered. What we call reactive attachment disorder is very common. The baby whose attachment with the mother is disturbed has disruptions in development. Sometimes this disorder is confused with autistic disorder and the cause of depression in most of these children is maternal depression. Maternal depression underlies infant depression.
Impact of Traumas on Children
In addition, traumas, especially in the first two to three years, affect the child very much. Loss of father, loss of mother, separations, even a change of room can make a child depressed. We see such children brought to our clinic whose development is very disrupted. These children give an autistic profile. Because the elders of the family have turned in on themselves so much that the child's development is also hindered.
Loss of Acquired Skills
Disruption of the daily routine, disruption of the child's diet is very traumatizing. Likewise, it is thought-provoking when a child cries, does not eat or drink. In some children, as they grow older, we see these reactions and reactions such as not leaving the family alone. Between the ages of 2 and 6, the child's acquired skills may regress. A child who stopped wetting his/her diapers may suddenly start doing so. Or a child who used to sleep alone suddenly starts sleeping with his/her parents.
Conflicts Upset Family Dynamics
If there are discipline problems, the situation becomes even more difficult. Relationship problems, family problems, suicide, addictions, thoughts of running away from home are common. Anger outbursts and tics appear in adolescents. They become withdrawn or aggressive. Sometimes obsessions intensify. Conflicts disrupt family dynamics. Sometimes these problems are more pronounced in adolescence. The family is at the forefront of child and adolescent work. If the family fails to recognize or accept the child's problem, the problem can grow even more. Therefore, we remind families to be more vigilant, understanding and conscious during adolescence.