Over the years, children and teenagers have been exposed to stressful life events, especially in the last two years. I grew up with the training of Imagine he’s a sophomore on campus who has to rehearse The Man with the Gun and it’s life or death. His teens today have grown up on terrorist alerts and have to be searched every time they go to concerts, Disneyland and other places. Finally, they had to deal with COVID, more than 1,000,000 Americans have died from the virus (CDC). Many children and teenagers have lost grandparents, siblings and parents to this virus. So many children and teenagers are also dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. We thought we had turned a corner when it came to coronavirus, but it turns out we haven’t, and the number of cases is still skyrocketing. There are still people being diagnosed with coronavirus every day and people dying from Covid every day. Many of these people are vaccinated, but most people who are diagnosed and die are not vaccinated. Additionally, this virus is affecting teenagers and children. At least 1,000 of her children have died from the coronavirus (CDC) since schools resumed on-site classes.
This is a lot that children and teenagers have to adapt to. Remember that their brains are not yet fully developed. Therefore, they cannot understand things like adults. Plus, they have hyperactive imaginations fueled by misinformation from social media and people like Fox’s Tucker Carlson. The result of having to deal with all these problems is a huge increase in depression, suicide, drug overdoses and anxiety disorders among children and teens. In my office, I get at least 20 requests for her every day from her teens seeking psychotherapy for anxiety disorders.
The fact that we thought we were on the right track against coronavirus but the surge continues is confusing and frustrating for teens. Just as we think we are back to normal life, we still need to take precautions and we may not return to our pre-corona life. It is not possible to give a child or teenager a clear answer as to when they will return to their lives.
With all that teenagers have had to deal with growing up, terrorist attacks, wars, economic collapse, mass shootings, and now the coronavirus, we can’t help but plan for their mental health care. Yes, hospitals are short of beds and doctors are exhausted, but psychotherapists are also in short supply.Also, psychotherapists deal with depression, suicide, and anxiety. Dealing with adults and teenagers every day is exhausting. However, psychotherapists need a break so they can continue. Finally, more and more insurance companies are reducing claims or increasing copayments, leaving families unable to afford their copayments.
This is happening when children and teenagers desperately need psychotherapy. Anxiety disorders in children and teenagers were prevalent before the pandemic (CDC). Since the pandemic, he has seen a 25% increase in children and teenagers diagnosed with anxiety disorders. At this point, anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric diagnosis in children and teenagers (CDC). Yes, diagnoses of depression, suicide, grief and trauma have increased since the pandemic, but anxiety disorders ( CDC) showed the greatest increase. As a result, many children and teenagers have severe anxiety about school, and many say they are unable to go to school because of an anxiety disorder. attend school, pay attention in class, and interfere with completing homework.
Additionally, children and teenagers may have to wait months to see a psychotherapist or psychiatrist, which is no exaggeration. , often have to wait a day or two in the emergency room because there is no room in the psychiatry. What does this do for thought-provoking or suicidal teenagers who have to wait in the emergency department because the psychiatric department doesn’t have a bed for them? This has happened to some patients who have
This lack of mental health care is unacceptable in the United States. Parents call your workplace’s human resources department. They negotiate your benefits with insurance companies. So they can renegotiate your coverage so you can get the benefits your family needs. Please request.
As a result, many parents have asked me how to determine if their child is coping with anxiety and what to do if so. It’s easy to see why parents are worried, especially since they tend to hide their anxiety because they don’t want to worry them. In addition, parents are trying to find a psychotherapist who can treat their children, and teens are finding ways to pay for treatment as the cost of living rises and insurance companies limit coverage. It is said that
That’s why the APA (American Psychological Association) has created guidelines that parents can use to determine if their child is coping with anxiety and what to do if so. Depression guidelines are also available. Below is a summary of his APA guidelines.
The American Psychological Association (APA) offers the following tips for recognizing if your child is feeling stressed or anxious.
- Withdrawal from things the child normally enjoys
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- unexpected stomachache or headache
- extreme mood swings
- Development of nervous habits such as nail biting
Parents can actively help children and adolescents manage stress.
be available
- Start a conversation and let your kids know that you care about what’s going on in their lives.
- Pay attention to when your child is most likely to talk, such as in the car or before bedtime.
listen actively
- When your child begins to share their feelings and thoughts, stop what you are doing and listen carefully.
- Have the children complete the points before you respond.
- Listen to them, even if it’s hard to hear.
thoughtful response
- Resist arguing about who is right.
- Express your opinion without disrespecting their opinion.
- During the conversation, focus more on your child’s feelings than your own.
- Children will ignore you if you appear angry, defensive, or critical, thus softening strong reactions.
- word exchange.
o Say “and” instead of “but”
o Say “could” instead of “should”
o Say “I won’t” instead of “I can’t”
o Say “sometimes” instead of “never” or “always”
Consideration
- Model the behaviors you want children to adhere to on how to deal with anger, solve problems, and deal with difficult emotions. Children learn by watching their parents.
- Don’t feel like you have to step in every time your child does something they might think is a bad decision, unless the consequences are dangerous.
- Pay attention to how your child plays, uses words, and does things. Young children may find playtime stressful.
- It is important to explain difficult topics in sentences so that even individual words can be understood by the child. For young children, it might mean saying something simple, such as “We love you. We are here to keep you safe.” It’s important to talk openly about difficult topics, process information, and give yourself a little time to ask questions when you’re ready.
If stress begins to interfere with your child’s daily activities for several days in a row, contact a psychotherapist who specializes in treating children and teenagers. Getting the right treatment plan for your child is very important.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Helping Children Cope webpage (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/for-parents) for additional helpful information about children and stress. can find. html.
Dr. Michael Rubino is a psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience treating children and teenagers. For more information on Dr. Rubino’s research, visit his website (www.RubinoCounseling.com) or his Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/drrubino3), or podcasts on Spotify, Apple, or Audible.
