Warning Signs
Stress
&
Trauma
Stress and Trauma occur in most children's life that most often think. This could be in the household, at school, or even in the community. If a child is in an abusive household, that affects them greatly every day at school, especially because they feel like they can't talk to anyone about it. This is an example of trauma, also events like a car accident, a natural disaster, or even an event like a school shooting all emotionally affect that child on a deep level
Steps to Help Kids With Trauma
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Reassure that your child is safe
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Allow your child to recall events that they remember
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Encourage them to talk to you about how they are feeling
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Limit discussion of the event so that triggers aren't being introduced
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Help them make sense of what has happened
Body Image and Eating Disorders
Body Image doesn't come into play for a lot of teens until puberty hits. This happens at different times for everyone, but girls typically at age 10-14. Because of social media today, girls and women alike have a higher dissatisfaction with their bodies than their male peers, even though they experience some issues with body image as well.
Early matured girls are happier with their body than later matured girls
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Girls who have hit puberty early are more likely to drink, development an eating disorder, smoke, and suffer from depression
Anorexia: An eating disorder that involves the relentless pursuit of thinness through starvation
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Weight is below 85% of what is considered "normal" for their height and weight
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The intense fear of gaining weight or not being able to lose weight
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Distorted Image of their body shape
Bulimia: An eating disorder where the individual consistently follows a binge-purge pattern
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Self vomiting or excessive use of laxatives
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Occurs 2x a week for a 3 month period
Depression
15-20% of teens with be diagnosed with major depressive disorder
What Does Depression Look Like?
What Causes Depression?
Depression can be a different experience for everyone and often be difficult to detect, so it is important to know some of the symptoms and warnings to this mental health disorder
One thing to keep in mind is that this disorder isn't caused by anything in particular. It is a mixture of everything going on inside them and also around them
Migraines & headaches constantly
Low levels of social support
Poor school performance
Lack of motivation or interest in activities that they enjoyed
Withdrawl from family and friends
Irritability, anger, & hostility
Tearfulness or frequent crying
Genes & Genetics
There are little things called neurotransmitters in your brain. A person that doesn't have any mental health disorders or had any past trauma to the head, all levels of serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and others are at a normal level. However, if someone has depression, for example, there are low levels of them flowing in the brain.
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Family Factors
In this section, in particular, this could look like a lot of things. This could be divorced parents, causing the child to move back and forth, having younger siblings that need more attention from the parents, or parents work a lot in which the teen needs to take care of themselves more often than not
No Close Friends
Friends are a crucial part of growing up. These people are your support in school and a lot of times out of school too. If your child doesn't have many friends, they keep a lot of their feelings inside, causing a build-up of emotions. Encourage them to talk to you. It may be a difficult process, but let them know that you are there for them
Suicide
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in 10-19-year-olds
8.6% is attempted suicide
Poor Grades
Genetics
Breakups
Maltreatment
2.8% engaged in attempts that needed medical attention
In 2011, Cyberbully was released with Emily Osmit starring as a teenager who was bullied online for months and towards the end she tried to take her own life.
In this Netflix special, the documentary of Gabrial Fernandez after his death was released, giving light to everything that happened in this 8-year-old boy's life.
One of the biggest takeaways was that after years and years of maltreatment and torture from his mom and stepdad, he tried to kill himself, but his mom was the one that ended his life
Referenced and used info from 17th Edition Life Span & Development written by John Santrock