How Psychiatrists Can Help Your Child

When we look deeper and closer into the lives of adults experiencing mental health problems, we find one common issue in all cases: a traumatic childhood experience ingrained in their minds. The emotional stress the child goes through because of various reasons continues to affect their lives even as they age and even if things get better.

Whether it is divorced parents, violence, sexual abuse, or war, the bitter experiences mold a child’s character and often lead to mental health issues experienced in later stages of life or even as a child. The Beaverton psychiatrist at Health Core Psych, in this blog, outlines the importance of a psychiatrist in a child’s life so that his or her future is one of mental stability and happiness.

What Is Child Or Adolescent Psychiatry?

Child and adolescent psychiatry assesses, diagnoses, and treats behavioral and mental disorders among children and adolescents. Psychiatrists or medical professionals are responsible for providing comprehensive mental health care to children, adolescents, and their loved ones.

It completely focuses on treating the child’s mental health problems that encompass their development at home, school, family, and community. Often it is the negligence of parents or primary caregivers that they fail to understand that the mental health problems of a child are usually because by family relationships. If a child is exposed to traumatic experiences, chronic neglect, abusive relationships, or a harmful environment, the child psychiatrist needs to intervene to help the child grow healthily as a functional adult.

The Common Mental Health DisoDisordersldren Experience

When it comes to mental health disorders in children, there are alarming findings by world organizations dedicated to the well-being of children. The unfortunate thing about this is that almost more than half of these mental health conditions are overlooked and remain undetected, resulting in children’s dysfunctional adulthood.

Some of the common mental health disorders among children and adolescents are:

Anxiety Disorders:

The persistent anxiety, fear, and worry negatively affect social interactions among children.

Eating Disorders:

It is common in adolescents, especially girls, that results from a dysfunctional perception of ideal body type and weight loss that prompts unsafe dieting habits. It can also have life-threatening consequences.

Depression and Mood Disorders:

A child going through depression loses interest in play or school activities which can often lead to a bipolar disorder where a child experiences extreme mood swings and can even harm someone or him/herself

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):

It is a neurological condition that can be detected as early as when a child is three years old. Children with autism have difficulty interacting or communicating with others

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

PTSD causes proprolongedxiety, nightmares, a flashback of traumatic events, emotional distress, and distressing memories that children who are exposed to violence, abuse, or injury experience

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):

Such children have impulsive behaviors, are hyperactive, and have a tough time paying attention

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:

children with the obsessive-compulsive disorder exhibit frequent compulsive rituals and obsessive thoughts that hurt their growth and development

Schizophrenia:

It is a mental illness that is manifested by delusions, odd behaviors, and hallucinations

All these odd behaviors in children hint at the necessity to consult a psychiatrist before it grows out of control and affects the child. Such mental disorders affect the child and those around them as they have a difficult time understanding the child.

How A Psychiatrist Would Help

When you observe behavioral issues in your child, you should immediately consult a psychiatrist who can be a valuable medical health provider for your child’s mental wellness. The psychiatrist in Beaverton at Health Core Psych will develop a treatment plan for your child and your family.

We have child psychiatrists who are trained and have academic proficiency in managing the mental health of children and teenagers. Our treatment goal is to help foster better family relationships and develop a better coping mechanism in the child for better performance at school and the ability to become a valuable part of the community.