Signs Your Child Needs Counseling
Just like adults, kids experience emotional ups and downs. Trouble with friends, periods of moodiness or even dips in their school performance are common. How do you know if it’s a normal growing pain or something more serious?
No parent should feel alone in protecting their child’s mental health. If you’re not sure how to tell if your child needs counseling, read on to learn the signs.
Does My Child Need Therapy or Counseling?
You want what’s best for your child. If they break their arm, you go to the emergency room. But what about if they seem off or they’re not acting like their usual self? Your child or teen may be going through a difficult period in their life where they may need help, guidance or a compassionate person to listen.
If you don’t know whether your child needs therapy or counseling, here are some signs to look out for:
- Changes in eating or sleeping: This could be sleeping or eating too much or not at all.
- Isolation: Withdrawal from peers or isolation is especially concerning when this behavior is a significant change from their normal personality.
- Disruptive behaviors: Your child may be disrupting your home life, getting in trouble at school, acting out, fighting with friends or talking back. These behaviors could all be ways of expressing emotions or attempting to tell you something more is going on.
- Destructive behaviors: Self-harm or hurting others often masks a deeper pain, resentment or anger.
- Regression: Bedwetting, clinginess, tantrums or excessive fearfulness can indicate an underlying issue.
- Physical health symptoms: Some mental health issues manifest as physical symptoms, such as stomach problems, headaches and more. Be sure to rule out any medical issues with your child’s pediatrician.
- Struggling with big changes: Stressful situations or big life changes can be hard to face alone — especially for kids. Your child may struggle after a move, change in schools, familial death, new sibling, conflict with a friend or parental divorce.
How to Tell If Your Child Has Anxiety
Worrying or feeling anxious from time to time is normal, especially after a life change. However, here are some signs that anxiety is interfering with your child’s home, school or social life:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Lack of sleep or excessive nightmares
- Poor eating habits
- Anger or irritability
- Out-of-control outbursts
- Constant worry
- Excessive negativity
- Fidgety or tense demeanor
- Frequent toilet use
- Long bouts of crying
- Clinginess or separation anxiety
- Physical symptoms like tummy aches
How to Tell If Your Child Has Depression
Everyone feels blue from time to time. If it seems your child has been sad for a while, this could signify depression. Here are some other signals that your child may be struggling with depression:
- Feeling sad or hopeless
- Lack of interest in hobbies or fun activities
- Low energy levels
- Lethargy
- Changes in eating or sleeping
- Mood changes, such as irritability
- Behavioral problems at home or school
- Talking about running away or death
Courageous Kids Counseling Can Help
Don’t let your child struggle with anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns alone. Courageous Kids Counseling wants to empower your child and family with the help needed to overcome and find joy again. Contact us today to learn more.
