The mental health of children has never been so high on the publics agenda, and for good reason. Despite the raise in its awareness, it is estimated that there is an average 10 year delay between young people displaying first symptoms and them getting help. (https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk)
With such a shocking statistic we can only wonder what is happening to these young people during this time.
Trying to continue to cope with the demands of life for a child without a mental illness can sometimes be tough, so add anxiety, depression or panic attacks into the mix and it is no wonder that things all become a bit too much.
We often believe that mental illness can’t strike until we get older, but in fact, mental illness can affect young children too. Please don’t listen to anyone who tries to tell you that your child is too young – mental illness can affect anyone, at any age and you know your child better than anyone else!
Looking out for the signs of stress and anxiety in your child is a good place to start.
The Mayo Clinic provides a thorough list of signs and symptoms that could indicate a mental illness:
Feeling sad or down
Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
Withdrawal from friends and activities
Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping
Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations
Inability to cope with daily problems or stress Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people.
Alcohol or drug abuse Major changes in eating habits Excessive anger, hostility or violence
Suicidal thinking
If you notice a significant disruption in your child's mood, sleeping or eating patterns, hobbies or social activities, or a regression in their development in any way, it might just be a sign that they are struggling with their mental health and opening up a non-judgmental conversation about how they are feeling is the first step to seeking help for them if needed.
Hypnotherapy is proven to be safe and very effective in its treatment of children and this is one of the reasons I have chosen to focus on this in my practice.
If you are interested in finding out how hypnotherapy could help your child with their mental illness, please feel free to contact me – jacqueline@evexiahypnotherapy.com
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