Signs & Symptoms of Childhood Mental Disorders
Based on the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine’s recent report, up to one in five U.S. children can experience a mental disorder in a given year. America as a country spends an estimated $247 billion each year on childhood mental disorders. Conditions are expressed differently and will vary some from child to child. Below are some common signs and symptoms of the most prominent mental health concerns in children today.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Signs of Childhood ADHD:
Has difficulty waiting their turn
Interrupts others
Talks excessively
Is on the go or acts as if they are run by a motor
Fails to pay close attention to details/makes careless mistakes
Listens poorly when spoken to directly
Has difficulty sustaining attention for long periods of time
Easily becomes distracted
Can focus attention on things like TV or video games
Loses things necessary for important tasks
Has poor follow through on instructions
Has difficulty playing quietly or engaging in leisure activities
Often has difficulty making and keeping friends due to bossiness, or child’s intolerance for others
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Signs of ODD:
Loses their temper
Argues with adults
Actively defies or refuses to comply with adults
Deliberately annoys others
Blames others for their behaviors and mistakes
Is angry or resentful
Is spiteful and vindictive
Major Depression
Signs of Childhood Major Depression:
Has sleep or appetite changes
Has thoughts of death or dying
Expresses wishes to harm self or others either written, verbally or through drawings
Has feelings of being “blue” or sad*Note: in children and adolescents, irritability is more common than expressed feelings of sadness
Has low self-esteem: calls self “stupid”, “bad”, “ugly”, etc.
Cries a lot
Has slowed physical responses or increased motor agitation
Gains or loses a significant amount of weight
Refuses or has reluctance to attend school
Doesn’t care or lacks motivation to complete school work
Has a sudden drop in grades
Withdraws from family and friends
Loses pleasure in previously enjoyed activities
Has unexplained physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach aches
Is easily fatigued
Appears lazy
May engage in risk-taking behaviors with little thought to consequences
Has extreme sensitivity to failure or rejection
It is important not to diagnose any mental health disorder without the help of a trained mental health professional. Please use this only as a guideline.
Avenues of Counseling and Mediation, LLC has many compassionate and experienced counselors who work in our Medina and Akron, Ohio locations who are trained in child and play therapy techniques. Most work with as young as five years of age.