Child Behavior Issues
It’s normal for children to misbehave occasionally. Temporary misbehaviors results from things such as stress from a parent’s divorce or a recent family death. However, sometimes behavior issues are serious and may greatly affect a child’s quality of life, as well as those around him or her. Many behavior disorders involve aggression and hostility and other disruptive behaviors. Other warning signs that your child may have a behavior disorder include the following:
• Self Harm
• Harming Others
• Damaging Property
• Stealing
• Lying
• Struggling at School
• Drinking, Smoking
• Drug Use
• Early Sexual Activity
• Persistent Hostility Towards Others
If left unattended or untreated, these warning signs may become habits and result in mental health problems and difficulty coping with life and stress.
Types of Child Behavior Disorders
There are many different types of child behavior issues, including the following:
• ADHD/ADD
• Blended Family Issues
• Bipolar Disorder
• Coping with Medical Conditions
• Learning and Developmental Delays
• Sexual Abuse
• Physical Abuse
• Psychological Issues
• School-Related Stress
Indicators of Child Behavior Issues
Like many health conditions, there are certain risk factors that may indicate if your child is at risk for developing a behavior disorder. Some risks include the following:
• Learning Difficulties
• Perinatal Complications
• Unstable Household
Causes of Child Behavior Disorders
There are a variety of causes associated with child behavior issues, including the following:
• Stress Over the Birth of a New Sibling
• Stress Over a Parent’s Divorce
• Stress Over a Death in the Family
• School-Related Stress
Symptoms of Child Behavior Disorders
If you think your child may have a behavior disorder, keep a lookout for the following symptoms:
• Self Harm or Harming Others (or Animals)
• Making Threats to People
• Skipping School
• Frequent Arguments
• Participating in Sexual Activity
• Smoking, Drinking, or Drug Use
• Struggling at School
• Damaging Property
It’s important to note, however, the not every child with a behavior disorder displays physical symptoms.
Diagnosis of Child Behavior Disorders
If you think your child has a behavior disorder, schedule a visit with their doctor. During the visit, your child’s doctor may refer him or her to a psychologist or psychiatrist for evaluation to help diagnose which disorder your child may have.
During your child’s doctor visit other topics including family health history, the family history of mental illnesses, and whether your child has experienced any type of trauma may come up.
Treatment of Child Behavior Disorders
If your child’s doctor diagnoses him or her with a behavior disorder, there are a variety of different treatment options that your child’s doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist may recommend. Some of the most common treatment options include the following:
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This helps identify unhealthy or negative behaviors and replace them with healthy behaviors.
• Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy: This helps provide stability on daily routines.
• Family Therapy: This involves integrating family communication and support into your child’s treatment to help identify and manage things like extreme mood swings and other unhealthy behaviors.
Long term Complications of Child Behavior Disorders
If left untreated, your child’s behavior disorder may result in the following complications down the road:
• Depression
• Development of Phobias
• Anxiety Disorder
• Psychiatric Disorders
Prognosis of Child Behavior Disorders
Your child’s prognosis for overcoming behavior disorders relies heavily on how soon they’re diagnosed and treated. The sooner your child receives treatment, the risk of the behavior becoming a lifelong habit greatly diminishes.
