Tell tale signs of stress
Published
With a growing number of children of all ages suffering from mental health issues, child and educational psychologist Dr Emily Crosby shares some key indicators to look out for if parents have any concerns.
1. They stop enjoying or wanting to do the things they used to love or enjoy. This doesn’t include the odd blip of a bad day– that’s normal. Look out for behaviours that persist over time.
2. They become snappy with you and present as sometimes angry, when in fact they may be experiencing feelings of anxiety, guilt or shame inside.
3. Changes in their daily self-care routines such as eating, sleeping or washing. It can be normal for children to refuse to carry out some of these basic things from time to time, but if they become persistent then it’s important to seek help.
HOW TO HELP
• Use terms such as ‘I wonder’ and ‘I notice’ to open up dialogue.
• Validate emotions and feelings: ‘it’s ok to feel worried’ or ‘I know it’s really tough I’m here but there’s no pressure to talk.’
• Use indirect approaches such as going for walks, playing a favourite game, going for a drive and engaging in talk with indirect eye contact.
Dr Emily Crosby is a child and educational psychologist with over 13 years’ experience working with children, young people and their families across NHS, local authority and private practice settings.
