They
should never single them out, unless one is confident that they will be able to
handle the situation. Encouraging sports activity is also recommended, as
playing together in team with children of the same age will help them get over
their fear and shyness. Therapists may help the children to downplay their
social phobia by individually working on finding the causes and using ingenuity
to help them. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also widely used to help this
condition. Therapists also help children to deal with stress through relaxation
techniques and breathing exercises. Role-playing, social skills training, and
recalling positive experiences are all part of therapy. Treatment Treatment
involves medication and lifestyle changes. Medication aims at reliving anxiety
symptoms, and it is prescribed with other alternative treatment like therapy.
The most common anxiety medications are antidepressants, beta blockers, and
benzodiazepines. Certain lifestyle changes bring a positive feel and wellness
around them. Make sure they get undisturbed, adequate sleep and a healthy
nutritious diet.
Limit the intake of caffeine and aerated ProNatural Probiotics drinks. Avoid
smoking, shouting, and screaming in front of them and do not expose them to
harsh environment. Social anxiety in adults or children is not a disease, hence
it has no complete cure. However, a combination of medications, lifestyle
changes, therapy, emotional support, and encouragement will surely help
maximize their potential and get past social phobia. Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder Symptoms in Children What are the obsessive compulsive disorder
symptoms in children? Read on to find out... TAGGED UNDER: Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder (OCD) Advertisement Does your child count the stairs as he/she climbs
up and down, or hates shaking someone's hand for fear of germs? Does he/she
keeps asking whether he/she is going to die? Kids have finicky habits and
phobias, but there is a difference between finicky habits and downright
obsessive behavior. Compulsive behavior in children is a common childhood
anxiety disorder, as common as asthma. Yet it is often ignored and the child
grows up with his obsessions and fears magnified. What is Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder? OCD is an anxiety disorder which is characterized by intrusive
thoughts or 'worries' that produce fear or uneasiness in a person. The person
carries out certain repetitive actions to ease that fear.
The actions seem to
dominate the person's life and interrupt his/hers daily routine. Such actions
can take up hours of the day and the person's attitude can become psychotic and
frenzied, especially if interrupted or unable to complete the actions. These
actions vary from counting the stairs, cleaning objects unnecessarily or
brushing teeth repeatedly. They are often called rituals or compulsions. OCD
sufferers can also have disturbing visions or obsessions, which they cannot
stop thinking about. They derive no pleasure from their actions and do not want
to perform them, but are forced to. OCD symptoms in children are particularly
disturbing, as they can cause severe emotional distress and anxiety to the
child. In the age group 10-15, when friend circles are formed, OCD-affected
kids are scared and anxious at the out-of-control rituals, and hence fail to
socialize with others. Kids can understand that there is something wrong about
the weird thoughts, they keep having but are embarrassed or scared to tell
adults, due to fear of rejection. They also justify the rituals with a 'just
so' attitude. Compulsive behavior in kids is usually diagnosed between 7 to 12
years of age. 1% of children in the U.S. exhibit OCD.
OCD Symptoms and Warning
Signs in Children Common Compulsions Dread of germs and dirt Obsession with
waste Obsession with order and symmetry Fear of something bad happening to a
loved one Superstitions about numbers and figures Sexual or violent thoughts
Preoccupation with items Religious obsessions Common Rituals Repeated teeth
brushing, showering, hand washing Writing, erasing, rewriting Going in and out
of doorways Repeatedly checking if things are off, doors are locked or redoing
homework Feeling something or someone is "dirty" and avoiding contact
Ordering and arranging objects Counting and recounting Stashing and collecting
objects Repetitive coughing or eye twitching Repeating words or phrases in the
same order Following a ritual before bed Rituals to undo or prevent something
from happening Remember that kids have active imaginations and do not confuse
their actions with OCD symptoms. If your kid is noticeably distressed or
anxious about the rituals or obsessions, then OCD is the cause. A typical
impulse is to mask or hide their rituals. Parents often dismiss it as a phase,
and sometimes the symptoms are so masked, that they are assumed to be a part of
the child's normal behavior.
Warning Indicators High usage of soap or tissue
Raw, chapped hands from constant washing Drop in grades and test results
Cancellations and eraser marks on test papers and homework Too much time spent
doing homework Same questions asked over and over again A persistent fear of
illness and dirt Fear of family members' health and life Dramatic increase in
laundry Spends a lot of time getting ready for bed Collecting weird objects
like finger clippings OCD Diagnosis and Treatment Consult a psychiatrist or a
psychologist if your child exhibits some of the above OCD symptoms. Note down
your child's rituals and actions, as well as the time taken for each. The
doctor will ask for detailed information regarding your family's medical
history, and will ask your child, age appropriate questions about his/her
rituals and obsessions. If diagnosed, the two best obsessive compulsive
disorder treatments to consider are behavioral therapy and medication.
Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy (CBT) focuses on the obsessions and the
thoughts behind them, and helps children in overcoming them. Kids are
encouraged to face their fears and change their reactions to them. For example,
if a child fears dirt, a therapist will show him/her how dirt is nothing to
fear and play games with the kid that involve getting dirty. These are done
slowly and surely, with the child setting the pace.
The child is also taught
how to stop ritualistic actions and fight against OCD. Medication will help
suppress some symptoms but does not reach the root worry or obsession. A
combination of CBT and medication is the standard treatment plan. Handling OCD
symptoms in a child requires patience and understanding. Avoid criticizing and
comparisons. Educate other family members to be helpful and what not to do.
With the right attitude, you can prevent this anxiety disorder from growing up
with your kid. Anxiety and Menopause Anxiety is one of the most important and
definite symptoms of menopause. Know more on anxiety and menopause, in this
article. TAGGED UNDER: Anxiety Menopause Advertisement Menopause is a phase in
a woman's life that is characterized by physiological and emotional upheaval.
As this stage signifies the end of a woman's reproductive ability, it has
lasting effects on a woman's psyche. Menopause is a gradual process, which goes
on for several years. The first signs of menopause begin to develop in later
thirties or early forties (also called perimenopausal age). On an average, a
woman attains menopause by the age of 51. A few years before menopause and a
couple of years after that are especially demanding for a woman. Among st the
various symptoms of menopause, anxiety and depression can be difficult to deal
with.
Anxiety and Menopause As mentioned above, menopause symbolizes the end of
fertility for a woman. Although, a woman has had children in her life and has
no intentions of procreation on her mind, this fact can still be very difficult
for her to accept. Women perceive this as a loss of their femininity,
womanhood. She may think that she is now undesirable to her spouse. A woman
feels anxious all the time regarding acceptance by her spouse. If she does not
get spousal support at this stage, it may send her into depression. Another
factor that leads to anxiety and depression is response of children. Children
at this stage are capable of taking control of their lives. Thus, they become
less and less dependent on their mothers. This again may cause a feeling of
worthlessness in women. Although, hormonal fluctuation is often cited as a
reason for menopausal symptoms like this one, one should understand that
hormonal imbalance is only a trigger. The origin of anxiety lies deeper into
the psyche of a woman. An event of physiological distress may ignite a fear of
same event happening again and thus makes the woman anxious. Symptoms Anxiety
is often characterized by the fear of unknown; a fear that something bad is
going to happen to yourself or your loved ones. Panic attack is the most common
anxiety symptom in women during menopausal period.
The woman may experience
shortness of breath, sweating, hot flashes, heaviness in chest etc. amongst
other symptoms. If the woman has several responsibilities she may get stressed
out, eventually leading to adrenal fatigue. Fear of death may also cause
trembling along with bouts of depression. Treatment As anxiety is a
psychosomatic problem, it can be treated only by improving the psyche of the
woman. In that regard, anxiety is easier to treat as it is only a mental
ailment. A few psychotherapy sessions may help a woman to come to terms with
this stage in a better way. Along with the woman, her family, especially her
spouse can also be imparted some counseling, so that they help her cope with
menopausal anxiety.
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