Dr LeCrone
05-21-2006, 10:01 PM
The concept of stress as it applies to adults has been well documented and is often discussed by health-care professionals and laymen alike.
Magazine headlines in supermarket checkout stands examine coping with stress at home, at work and even in specialized situations such as during a divorce. Professional journals have documented research on stressors and the negative effects of stress.
They subject seems to be well covered, but only in the last few years has interest been shown on the effects of stress on children. This is unfortunate for several reasons.
• Stress definitely affects children. It often goes unrecognized because parents are not familiar with the signs and symptoms of stress in children. Consequently, their children’s problems often go unattended until the situation becomes very serious.
• Negative effects of stress left untreated often carry over into adulthood and persist throughout life.
In looking for early signs of childhood stress, start with the area of the child’s life that is analogous to the adult’s workplace – the child’s school.
• Watch for signs and signals from a child who has been doing very well in school and has seemed happy but begins displaying poor academic performance and disliking school.
The problem may be coming from school, but also may be the result of some other area of the child’s life, such as peer relationships or problems at school and has seemed happy but begins displaying poor academic performance and disliking school.
The problem may be coming from school, but also may be the result of some other area of the child’s life, such as peer relationships or problems at home. Early consultation with teachers and principals should be carried out in order to determine the seriousness of the difficulty. The important thing to remember is that the child, particularly a young child, will frequently not mention to parents that there is any difficulty. The only way to discern stress is from the child’s behavior, his grades, reports from the teacher and from peer relations.
• Watch for signs of physical problems that are not a normal part of the child’s life. These may include headaches, frequent urination or diarrhea, neck or back pains, upset stomachs, queasiness or vomiting, poor sleeping habits, stuttering, in crease in the number of minor spills, falls and other minor accidents. Medical examination is often the first place to start in order to rule out such causes as infection, allergies, vision problems, etc. The physician may refer the child and his family to a mental health specialist for further evaluation and treatment if no medical cause for these problems is found.
• Watch for a loss of interest in activities that previously were approached with vigor, such as interest in outdoor activities, games, Sunday school, etc.
• Be aware that irritability, lying, stealing or cruelty to animals or other people may indicate problems.
• Compulsive cleanliness, nervous laughter or even unusual shyness may indicate a reversal of former habits or temperament and may mean difficulties have arisen.
Next week I will discuss the developmental stages of the child, how stress is a part of these stages and how parents can recognize the signals of stress in their child’s life.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1985
Magazine headlines in supermarket checkout stands examine coping with stress at home, at work and even in specialized situations such as during a divorce. Professional journals have documented research on stressors and the negative effects of stress.
They subject seems to be well covered, but only in the last few years has interest been shown on the effects of stress on children. This is unfortunate for several reasons.
• Stress definitely affects children. It often goes unrecognized because parents are not familiar with the signs and symptoms of stress in children. Consequently, their children’s problems often go unattended until the situation becomes very serious.
• Negative effects of stress left untreated often carry over into adulthood and persist throughout life.
In looking for early signs of childhood stress, start with the area of the child’s life that is analogous to the adult’s workplace – the child’s school.
• Watch for signs and signals from a child who has been doing very well in school and has seemed happy but begins displaying poor academic performance and disliking school.
The problem may be coming from school, but also may be the result of some other area of the child’s life, such as peer relationships or problems at school and has seemed happy but begins displaying poor academic performance and disliking school.
The problem may be coming from school, but also may be the result of some other area of the child’s life, such as peer relationships or problems at home. Early consultation with teachers and principals should be carried out in order to determine the seriousness of the difficulty. The important thing to remember is that the child, particularly a young child, will frequently not mention to parents that there is any difficulty. The only way to discern stress is from the child’s behavior, his grades, reports from the teacher and from peer relations.
• Watch for signs of physical problems that are not a normal part of the child’s life. These may include headaches, frequent urination or diarrhea, neck or back pains, upset stomachs, queasiness or vomiting, poor sleeping habits, stuttering, in crease in the number of minor spills, falls and other minor accidents. Medical examination is often the first place to start in order to rule out such causes as infection, allergies, vision problems, etc. The physician may refer the child and his family to a mental health specialist for further evaluation and treatment if no medical cause for these problems is found.
• Watch for a loss of interest in activities that previously were approached with vigor, such as interest in outdoor activities, games, Sunday school, etc.
• Be aware that irritability, lying, stealing or cruelty to animals or other people may indicate problems.
• Compulsive cleanliness, nervous laughter or even unusual shyness may indicate a reversal of former habits or temperament and may mean difficulties have arisen.
Next week I will discuss the developmental stages of the child, how stress is a part of these stages and how parents can recognize the signals of stress in their child’s life.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1985