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How does a nervous breakdown manifest in a child? How to treat nervous disorders in children? Factors that cause nervous breakdown in young children

It is generally accepted that nervous breakdowns are a negative phenomenon and cause anxiety about the condition nervous system. Neuroses in children cause their parents even more concern, since it is difficult to imagine how the child’s next tantrum will actually turn out. In part, a nervous breakdown also has its positive aspects: there is a release of negative emotions that have been accumulating for a long time, and psychological relief comes.

A nervous breakdown in a child resembles crying in its effect - when a person cries, he throws out all his experiences and accumulated grievances, after which he becomes easier and calmer. This is a unique method of getting out of a stressful situation.

The nervous system of children is very unstable and takes a long time to develop, so children usually endure stress and anxiety more severely than adults. Nervous breakdowns They may experience them quite often and manifest themselves in the form of crying and hysterics.

Symptoms of neurosis in children are almost the same as in adults: sudden changes in mood, irritability, severe psychological state.

Signs of the development of neurosis in a child are:

- constant feeling of fatigue and weakness;

- vulnerability and sensitivity - the child thinks that he is being mistreated, that others are harming him;

- touchiness and tearfulness;

- irritability - any request or advice from others causes aggression or resentment;

— the child’s sleep patterns are disrupted and digestive problems arise.

If you notice that your child has one of the specified symptoms, and after crying or an outburst of emotions he felt better, then there is no need to panic. But if your child regularly has nervous breakdowns, this is a reason to think about the reasons for this and analyze whether you are doing everything right?

The main reasons for the development of neurosis in children are mistakes in education that their parents make. It often happens that it is conflicts in the family that provoke nervous breakdowns in children. If you do not pay due attention to the problem in time, then later it can develop into serious psychological or even mental illness.

Neurosis does not arise on its own. This is always the result of stress, a difficult psychological situation, fear, when a child is forced to do something by force. Constant pressure from parents and an overly strict attitude from adults can provoke constant psychological stress. The lack of an upbringing strategy and unity on the part of the parents, when one allows everything and the other prohibits, “confounds the child’s guidelines,” and he will somehow not live up to the expectations of one of the parents.

A child's fear or lack of parental support in a difficult situation can provoke a nervous breakdown.

As a treatment option, patients are first advised to consult a psychologist. Many parents are hesitant to take their child to a specialist, afraid to admit that a problem exists. This position can only harm the child and aggravate the condition. There is nothing wrong with a doctor helping you and your baby understand the causes of a nervous breakdown and telling you how to behave so that the situation does not repeat itself. Sometimes a child may need the help of a psychotherapist.

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The modern lifestyle has a negative impact not only on the health of adults, but also on children. Nervous disorders in children are very common, but parents are not able to identify this pathology, thinking that this is just another whim. With the younger generation, circumstances are much simpler, because they are able to talk about their feelings, and the signs of a nervous breakdown in a teenager help to make a final diagnosis. Children are very active and sometimes it is difficult to determine when an action comes from nervousness, and in what case it simply needs to release excess energy. Therefore, you have to resort to the help of specialists.

Parents need to monitor their child and note actions that become habitual. A nervous breakdown manifests itself differently in each person, and the same applies to children. One person withdraws into himself, while others, on the contrary, prefer to scream loudly and throw tantrums. If your child has taken up the habit of rolling on the floor and screaming wildly, it is best to contact a neurologist who can dispel all doubts. According to experts, neurosis occurs solely because of this, which causes the emotional state to become unbalanced.

The main alarming factors include following symptoms:

The occurrence of hallucinations;
Ahead of mental development their peers;
The child begins to fantasize or deceive in all seriousness;
Lost interest in life;
Strong interest in one subject at school (overindulgence).

These symptoms only appear when initial stage nervous breakdown, and to prevent their development, contact a neurologist in a timely manner.

How do nervous disorders manifest in children?

Nervous tic. Very often, nervous disorders in children manifest themselves in this form, which is expressed in unconscious twitching of the limbs, cheeks, shrugging of shoulders, unreasonable movement of the hand, smacking, and so on. If you notice nervous tic in a child, when he is in a calm state, this is the first sign of a nervous disorder. With active activity, the tic disappears.
Poor sleep or insomnia. If your child previously slept well, but suddenly begins to toss and turn constantly, sleep restlessly and wakes up very often, you should also pay attention to this symptom. In this form of the disorder, children also talk during sleep, and it becomes very realistic.
Neurosis. This is the most serious form of manifestation of the disease and parents should pay special attention to the following symptoms: sadness, hysteria, phobias, frequent fears, obsessive movements, quiet speech, depression, panic. As soon as you notice these symptoms, consult a specialist immediately.
Stuttering. This form of the disorder occurs in children around three years of age. During this period, the baby learns to talk. It is very important not to overload the child, as due to the information load, he may experience stress. Ultimately important healthy child, not a potential prodigy. Stuttering also occurs when separated from loved ones.
Enuresis. When a child experiences a strong shock or overstimulation, he wets the bed. During this period, unstable mood, numerous whims and increased tearfulness are noted.
Anorexia. This form of nervous disorder results in loss of appetite. If a child was forced to eat as a child, then adolescence this, as a rule, “results” in the desire for a slim figure. It is best to treat anorexia at an early age, as adolescents exhibit greater independence and rely on their inexperience.

Very often, the development of a nervous breakdown is caused by the incorrect behavior of parents, despite all the love on their part. To avoid the development of the disease and its appearance a priori, try to avoid the following actions:

Note the child’s shortcomings, constantly pointing out their weakness, as if trying to eradicate them. In this case, it is better to concentrate on the wealth that needs to be acquired;
Sending a child to two schools, clubs and other sections that he does not like, creating an overload;
Excessive guardianship of a child;
Scandals in the family;
Show that the child must achieve favor with his parents, earn it. Try to show your love.

Treatment of children

Treatment of nervous breakdowns in children consists of different techniques in psychotherapy. Depending on the age, both nonverbal and verbal therapy can be used. However, at the heart of any technique is the idea of combating anxiety and fears. It is necessary to reduce the patient’s anxiety and return him to a harmonious life. To do this, you need to remove all grievances, guilt and get out of stress. If a child has a nervous breakdown, it is advisable to conduct psychotherapy sessions with the whole family. However, in the case of teenagers, it is better to trust a professional without resorting to the help of parents. Moreover, some adults themselves have personality disorders.

Regarding application medications, then they are used as an addition and only in advanced cases. Drugs, of course, can ease anxiety and temporarily cure a breakdown, but if the cause is not removed, which can be resolved exclusively with a psychotherapist, the disease will return again and, perhaps, with greater force.

What should parents do if their child has a nervous breakdown?

As a rule, children accumulate tension in kindergarten or a house that sooner or later breaks out. If you feel your child is on the verge of a tantrum, try the following:

When the baby is already at the limit and ready to throw a tantrum, smile at him, kiss him and tell him a joke.
Try to redirect the child's attention. This needs to be done sharply to cause surprise. One way is to pretend to be hysterical, making a preemptive move. In some cases, this causes surprise and reassurance.

What should you do if your child has already had a nervous breakdown:

Place your child in a cool shower. If he is unable to do this on his own, pick him up and take him to the bath. IN as a last resort spray cold water in the face or on the forehead with ice, a bag of frozen vegetables, and a towel soaked in cold water. As you know, cold water slows down reactions in the body, negative energy is washed away, emotions recede;
Use the mirror technique. The point is to repeat all the actions that the baby does. At a young age, this causes great surprise and reassurance, hysteria is replaced by curiosity;
If you have an attack, move everything away dangerous items, since the child does not understand what he is doing and does not control himself. He can easily pick up an object and throw it wherever he wants;
Create an environment of privacy. Some people calm down when left alone, but you still need to watch your baby discreetly.

What actions should be taken after a hysteria has occurred:

Prepare hot tea and add a couple of drops of motherwort. This will calm the nervous system, the brain will come into balance, and the child will fall asleep;
Brew herbal teas with St. John's wort, mint, motherwort, fennel, and lavender more often. This is especially true if the child often cries and breaks down.

Don't forget about others preventive measures, in particular, B vitamins can remove negative emotional reactions and reduce the amount of stress. Cookies, cheese, egg yolk, beets, tomatoes, pears, spinach, are very useful for the nervous system. cauliflower, carrots and other fermented milk products. Recently it was possible to prove that folic acid helps reduce the amount of amino acid homocysteine, which has increased level in children prone to hysteria and nervous breakdown.

Signs and causes of nervous breakdown in teenagers

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Probably every person with age looks with caution at the younger generation, comparing his youth with modern generation. In any case, it can be noted that teenagers behave extremely defiantly, noisily, aggressively and obscenely. At home, of course, almost everyone follows the rules of decency, but at school or on the street, behavior most often changes greatly. As a result, individuals who are very trusting, susceptible to emotions and unable to protect themselves, receive psychological injuries, and they hit a person an order of magnitude harder than physical ones.

The psychological trauma suffered can, with age or throughout life, interfere with full development if it is not removed. Since in the post-Soviet space it is not yet customary to go to a psychologist, people are forced to cope with these problems on their own.

What causes contribute to the development of a nervous breakdown?

Unfavorable group among friends or at school;

Inability to stand up for yourself and defend your point of view;

Unfavorable climate within the family;

Lack of a favorite activity;

Frequent stress and emotional tension.

Signs of a nervous breakdown:

The teenager begins to withdraw into himself, avoids all contact with friends, blames others;
Shows excessive activity. However, this is much less common, since an outburst of emotions, even in the most primitive and ugly form, helps a person get rid of negativity;
During relaxation, the limbs of the body begin to twitch;
Poor sleep and insomnia;
Constant dialogues and disputes within the individual;
Depression and apathy towards the surrounding world.

Parents should show maximum attention, because suicidal acts often occur among the younger generation and one gets the impression that modern school education only contributes to this. Show more care, try to spend weekends together, going out into the country for fishing or just relaxing. This will protect the teenager from bad companies, if any. Encourage him to sign up for interesting sections where there is a “healthy” team. If a child feels a negative and disdainful attitude from other teenagers, send him to a sports section, wrestling or other types of combat. Thus, he will feel confident in himself and will be able to defend his point of view.

Treatment of adolescents

Like any treatment for a nervous breakdown, adolescents must follow certain rules:

Avoid conflicting communication, surround yourself with a favorable society;
Drink herbal teas with soothing herbs more often;
Do light sports;
Listen to relaxing music;
If you wish, do yoga, meditation;
Be sure to contact a psychotherapist who will help solve pressing problems and identify the cause of a nervous breakdown.

Nervous disorders in children in the modern world are occurring more and more often. This is due to various factors: the heavy workload that children receive in educational institutions, insufficient communication with parents who are busy at work, and the high standards that society sets. It is important to recognize warning signs in time and begin working with the child. Otherwise, it may lead to serious problems with the psyche in the future.

Nervous diseases can manifest themselves at any age, but the increased risk occurs during periods of age-related crises:

3-4 years;
6-7 years;
13-18 years old.

At a young age, a child cannot always tell what is bothering him. During this period, parents should be alert to such uncharacteristic signs as:

Frequent whims and irritability;
Fast fatiguability;
Increased emotionality and vulnerability;
Stubbornness and protests;
Feeling of constant tension and discomfort;
Closedness.

The child may begin to experience difficulties with speech, even if up to this time he had a good vocabulary. He may also begin to show interest in one particular area: playing with only one toy, reading only one book, drawing the same shapes. Moreover, his games become a real reality for him, so parents can notice how passionate the child is at this time. He can fantasize a lot and really believe in his fantasies. With such symptoms, it is recommended to undergo psychological diagnostics with a child psychologist, this will be especially important to do this a year before school.

When a child attends school, he or she may additionally exhibit signs such as:

Decreased appetite;
Sleep disturbance;
Dizziness;
Frequent overwork.

It is difficult for a child to concentrate and perform mental activity to the fullest.

Symptoms of nervous disorders in adolescent children are the most severe. An unstable psyche during this period leads to the fact that they may experience:

Impulsiveness. Even little things can make them angry;
Feeling constant anxiety and fear;
Fear of surrounding people;
Self-hatred. Often teenagers dislike their own appearance;
Frequent insomnia;
Hallucinations.

Physiological manifestations may include severe headaches, abnormal blood pressure, signs of asthma, etc. The worst thing is that in the absence of timely treatment, a disturbed psyche can cause suicidal thoughts.

Nervously- mental disorders children may have different roots. In some cases there is a genetic predisposition to this, but not always.

The disorder can be caused by:

Diseases of the child leading to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system;
Child diseases affecting the brain;
Maternal illnesses during pregnancy;
The emotional state of the mother during pregnancy;
Problems in the family: conflicts between parents, divorce;
There are too many demands on a child during the upbringing process.

The last reason may seem controversial, because upbringing is an integral part of a child’s formation. In this case, it is important that the parents’ demands are adequate and implemented in moderation. When parents ask too much from a child, try to find in him a reflection of their unrealized potential and, moreover, put pressure on him, setting too high standards, the result only gets worse. The baby experiences depression, which directly leads to the development of disorders in the nervous system.

A very important factor that can cause mental problems in a child is the discrepancy between the emotional temperament of him and his mother. This can be expressed both in a lack of attention and in its excess. Sometimes a woman may notice a lack of emotional connection with her child; she provides all the necessary actions to care for him: feeds him, bathes him, puts him to bed, but does not want to hug him or smile at him once again. But excessive parental care in relation to the child is not the best option; it also carries the risk of developing an unstable neuropsychic state of the child.

The presence of a phobia can also tell parents about possible problems neuropsychic state of the child.

Types of neuroses in childhood

Neurosis in a child, as in an adult, is divided into several types depending on the symptoms present. Nervous system disorders in children can take the following forms:

Nervous tic. It occurs quite often and is expressed in the form of involuntary movements of parts of the body: cheeks, eyelids, shoulders, hands. The child cannot control them, however, they arise during periods of his exciting or tense state. The nervous tic disappears when the child is very passionate about something;
Stuttering. A young patient begins to experience difficulty speaking due to spasms of the muscles responsible for this activity. Stuttering is especially intensified during periods of excitement or in the presence of an external stimulus;
Asthenic neurosis. The cause of this type of disease is the large amount of stress that falls on the child’s psyche. As a result, he may suffer from frequent and sudden mood swings, increased irritability and moodiness, lack of appetite and feelings of nausea;
Obsessive neurosis. It can be expressed both in constantly arising thoughts of an alarming or frightening nature, and in frequently repeated movements. The child can rock, turn his head, move his arms, and scratch his head.
Anxiety neurosis. Children are just learning about the world around them, so some things can frighten them, sometimes developing a real phobia in them. Most often, fears lie in the dark, loud noises, heights, strangers;
Sleep neurosis. The child has difficulty falling asleep and often suffers from nightmares. All this leads to the fact that the baby does not get enough sleep and constantly feels tired;
Hysteria. It occurs against the background of some emotional experience. The child cannot cope with his feelings and tries to attract the attention of others by crying loudly, lying on the floor, throwing objects;
Enuresis. In this case, neurosis is expressed in urinary incontinence. But it is important to consider that this phenomenon before the child reaches 4-5 years of age may not be informative in the diagnosis of mental disorders;
Eating behavior. Children often express increased food selectivity. But if this sign appears unexpectedly, then you should pay attention to it. Perhaps it was preceded by a disturbance in the child’s psyche. Excessive food consumption may also indicate more than just risk excess weight, but also about the presence of neurosis;
Nervous allergies. It is characterized by the fact that it is very difficult to determine the source of the body's reaction.

Depending on the child’s condition, he may experience signs of several types of neurosis at once, for example, sleep disturbances and obsessive thoughts.

Who to contact

If signs of psychological and nervous disorders appear in a child, parents should seek help from a doctor. First of all, you should visit a neurologist. It is he who will be able to determine what reason lies in the child’s changed behavior and whether there is a need for drug therapy.

The next step is to visit a psychotherapist. In some cases, parents will also need consultation, because often the cause of childhood neuralgic disorders is the tense relationship between them. In this case, a family psychologist who will work with all family members at the same time can help deal with the problem.

Treatment

Treatment in each case is selected individually. It may include measures in one or several areas at once: taking medications, psychological help, additional procedures.

Drugs

Children are not always treated with drug therapy. The doctor must, based on the diagnostic results, determine the need medicines. If the child really needs them, then the following may be indicated:

Sedatives. Most of them have vegetable origin, so they don't harm children's body. Their effect is to reduce emotional stress child. They also help normalize sleep;
Drugs that improve blood circulation in the brain area. Such medications have a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels, expanding and providing them with nutrition;
Antipsychotic medications. Necessary to rid the child of obsessive fears and increased anxiety;
Tranquilizers. They also belong to the group of sedatives, but have a more pronounced effect. Eliminate emotional tension and have a relaxing effect. Sleep, as a rule, becomes deeper and more sound;
Calcium-containing complexes. They make up for the lack of this element in the child’s body, which has a positive effect on the state of his nervous system and brain function.

Which drug the child needs, and in what dosage, is determined only by the attending physician. Otherwise, the condition may worsen side effects from taking medications.

Family psychotherapy

A visit to a child psychologist forms the basis of treatment for most nervous disorders in a child. At the appointment, the specialist tries to find out from the patient what exactly worries him, scares him or makes him nervous. In this case, the psychologist must establish the most confidential contact with the child. If there is a need, work is carried out with parents.

In addition to working with the child’s inner world, it is also important to create conditions for his life. He must have a normal daily routine, adequate sleep of at least 8 hours a day, a healthy diet, as well as a balanced amount of work and rest.

ethnoscience

All folk remedies, aimed at eliminating signs of a nervous disorder in a child, consist of taking herbal remedies that have a sedative effect. The most popular methods are:

Motherwort tincture. Dry herbs are brewed with boiling water and filtered through cheesecloth. Take this remedy 1-2 teaspoon 3 times a day. Not recommended for children under 7 years of age;
Valerian tincture. In this case, boiling water is poured over the crushed root of the plant. Drink the strained product 1 teaspoon 3-4 times a day;
Chamomile decoction. Dried flowers are brewed with boiling water and then left for 3 hours. Even infants can drink this decoction. If there are neurological disorders, the child is recommended to drink up to 150 ml per day.

It is important to note that herbs can cause allergic reactions, so you should first make sure that the child is not intolerant to them.

Prevention

Prevention of nervous disorders is important not only for children who have already encountered this problem. Every parent should be aware that the child’s psyche is not as formed as that of an adult, and therefore is susceptible to various destabilizing factors.

In order to prevent the occurrence of neurological disorders in a child, it is important to observe the following measures:

Listen to his emotions. It is important not to miss the moment when he needs support or simple attention;
Assess the child's emotional potential. A lot of attention is not always the best solution. Children should also have their own personal space;
Talk to him. Don't be afraid to tell your child about your feelings and thoughts. And, of course, it is important to teach him to give feedback;
Build trust. The child should know that parents are always ready to listen to him and accept him, even if he has made a mistake;
Create conditions for unlocking its potential. If a child has a craving for drawing, then you should not prohibit him from doing this activity, citing the fact that, for example, sports are a more interesting activity.

In general, parents simply must learn to love and understand their child, and it does not matter how old he is, 1 year old or 18. If this is difficult to do on your own, then you can seek help from psychological books, seminars, or directly from specialists in this field.

How to prevent a nervous breakdown in a child? What are the symptoms? What parenting mistakes lead to a nervous breakdown in a child? About this and much more in this article.

Nervous breakdowns in children

Life constantly puts its “natural experiments” on us. Neuropsychic health depends on how strong our nervous system is, how trained it is to various kinds of surprises. The most difficult thing in this regard is for children early age. The higher parts of their nervous system are still immature, are in the stage of formation, the protective mechanisms of the brain are imperfect, so a breakdown can easily occur and a neurotic disorder can develop. Incorrect methods of education, parents ignoring the possibility of a nervous breakdown in a child due to overexertion of the irritable or inhibitory process or their mobility often lead to sad results.

Let us explain with specific examples.

The child was frightened by a dog rushing at him, and he began to stutter. (There is an overstrain of the irritable process).
The mother forced her three-year-old daughter to eat, threatening her with a belt. The girl could not stand semolina porridge, but she “restrained” herself, ate through force, fearing punishment. As a result of overexertion of the inhibitory process, she developed anorexia - aversion to food and nervous vomiting.
The family broke up. The husband began a legal battle for the right to raise his son. The boy loved both his father and mother and did not want to part with either parent. And his father and mother alternately talked about each other to him, humiliated each other. As a result of overstraining the mobility of nervous processes and their disruption, the child developed night terrors.

Causes of nervous breakdown in children

Errors in education are one of the main causes of childhood nervous diseases. However, they are not necessarily the result of neglect or any malicious intent. Not at all. In some cases, if not the majority, they are committed because parents do not know the mental, physiological, age characteristics, characteristic of a child, and also because they do not always try to understand the reasons for this or that action of the baby.

EXAMPLE:

Vova grew up as a very inquisitive boy. He asked so many questions during the day that one day his grandmother threatened him: “If you don’t shut up right now and call Baba Yaga, she will drag you into the forest.” - “And I’ll run away!” - “If you don’t run away, she will bewitch you, your legs will be taken away.” At this time they called. “You see,” said the grandmother and went to open the door. The postman entered the room, an old woman, gray-haired, all wrinkled. Vova understood immediately; Baba Yaga! He noticed with horror that Baba Yaga was looking straight at him. “I don’t want to go into the forest!” the boy wanted to shout, but his voice disappeared. He decided to run away to another room, but his legs didn’t work, they “fell away.” Vova fell to the floor. Called ambulance. The boy was admitted to the hospital. He could neither walk nor speak, he lay all the time with his eyes tightly closed.

We have told you only about one fairly personal case of adult misbehavior that led to a nervous breakdown. Intimidation can also be of this order; “If you behave badly, your aunt doctor will give you an injection,” or “I’ll give it to your uncle the policeman,” or “If you don’t obey, the dog will drag you away”... And so the harmless, tail-wagging Ball, running up to the baby, becomes a super-strong irritant, and A doctor who comes to see a sick child horrifies him. The “buka” with which the parents were frightened appears to the baby in his sleep at night, and he wakes up in the country, screams, and cannot calm down for a long time. Fear as a result of intimidation often causes a stressful situation and becomes the cause of a neurotic reaction. In unprepared, impressionable children (with weakened nervous processes), fear can even be caused by the appearance of “mummers” at a children’s matinee, the aggressiveness of a wild animal in the zoo, or acute anxiety when aerialists perform in the circus.

EXAMPLE:

Yura attended the New Year's party for the first time in his life. He liked everything about the holiday. He looked in amazement at the huge Christmas tree in the middle of the hall, all covered in sparkles, toys, garlands, and colorful lights. Near the Christmas tree, Santa Claus led a round dance with the children. Yura, timid at first, became bolder and came closer to the round dance. Cheerful lop-eared hares jumped around him, and a red fox ran past. Suddenly Yura noticed how a large brown bear came out from behind the tree, swaying from one foot to the other, with its paws outstretched - “quite for real.” The bear headed towards Yura. Now he’s already very close, now he’s already raised his paws over Yura. The boy noticed terrible claws. And he screamed shrilly and rushed to the first door he came across. The door was locked. Then he hung on the handle, fell, and began to hit his head and hands on the floor.

Of course, completely unforeseen circumstances can also cause fear, for example, a natural disaster - an earthquake, fire, thunderstorm, car accident. However, most often, the cause of fear and the occurrence of a stressful situation that is insurmountable for a child is, in addition to intimidation, incorrect or insufficient explanations of certain phenomena and situations. For example, a child is taken to the zoo. Why not explain to him that there are good, kind animals, and wild, scary ones. Then it is unlikely that an aggressive reaction from, say, a tiger will cause an unexpected fright in a child. And, of course, children are completely unprepared for their parents’ scandals, especially those leading to gross insults and even fights. The ugly behavior of a drunken father is also a very strong irritant.

Factors that cause nervous breakdown in young children:

Acute unexpected fear.
A long-term psychotraumatic situation, which gradually causes stress, leads to confusion and a nervous breakdown.

Such a psychotraumatic factor can be both a dysfunctional situation in the family and different views of parents on upbringing. For example, the father is overly strict, punishes over trifles, while the mother, on the contrary, yields to the child in everything. In addition, parents argue about parenting methods in the presence of the baby. The father cancels the mother's decision, and the mother, secretly from the father, allows the child not to follow his instructions and orders. As a result, the child’s nervous processes become confused, and the feeling of security and confidence disappears.

Prevention of nervous breakdowns in preschool children

With the wrong methods of upbringing, children can develop undesirable character traits and bad habits.

Teachers of children are faced with the task of instilling in children the desire for good and developing the qualities necessary for life in a team. But you should also, and this is very often forgotten, take care to raise a mentally balanced person, with a strong nervous system, capable of overcoming difficulties.

Caring for a child’s nervous system begins from the first days of his life. We will not talk about the importance of the regime, rational nutrition, and compliance with hygiene requirements. All this is more or less known to parents. Less known to them are the correct parenting techniques that help form a healthy nervous system in a child.

Examples of life situations

Imagine a train compartment. A family is traveling - a mother, father and seven-year-old son. “Caring” parents constantly “educate” the boy: they reward him with slaps and slaps at almost every move he makes and for a variety of reasons, and sometimes for no reason. It is impossible to predict why he will receive the next slap on the head.

The boy, apparently, was accustomed to such treatment; he did not cry, but seemed completely wild, excited, and fussy. Every now and then he would break down and start rushing along the corridor, pushing aside passengers, grabbing and touching things that were not allowed, and once almost opened the stop valve. For all this he received an appropriate bribe. But he was pulled back even when he did not do anything illegal.

As it turned out, the boy was not stupid at all: he showed curiosity that was natural at his age. And yet in front of this is clearly a sick child.

Here's another example: three-year-old Misha, seeing how other children did this, fell to the floor and began kicking when his mother refused to fulfill his wish. The mother stood and calmly looked at her son. But Misha did not stop roaring, and this is very harmful for the nervous system.

Then mom said:

Misha, you'll get your new suit dirty. Take a newspaper, lay it down and then you can lie down on it.

Misha stopped crying, got up, took the newspaper, spread it out, and while he was doing this, he had already forgotten why he needed to kick and scream; After lying quietly, he stood up. Since then, every time Misha began to be capricious, they reminded him that before lying on the floor, he needed to spread a newspaper. And while he was doing this, he was already calming down, and there was no need to go to bed.

We gave these two examples only for comparison: in the first case, the “pedagogical techniques” of the parents led to a nervous illness in the child, in the second, the calm and even attitude of the mother, her upbringing techniques, thought out taking into account the individual characteristics of her neat little Mishenka, prevented the development of whims, nervousness.

Let's look again at the first example. What exactly brought the child into a state of nervous excitement? The contradictory demands of the parents, i.e., in the language of physiologists, “a clash of nervous processes”: the boy received a certain order from one of the parents and immediately the opposite demand from the other.

The disorder of orders caused the same chaotic state in his nervous system. Continuous painful stimulation also undoubtedly had a harmful effect on his nervous system.

Let us add to these convincing words the fact that fear and pain upset the nervous system.

The famous psychiatrist S.S. Korsakov wrote that age causes a special instability and vulnerability of the nervous system for each period of life, as a result of which painful phenomena are caused by reasons that are especially strong at this particular age.

Preschool age has peculiar features that leave an imprint on the neurotic manifestations of the child.

A characteristic feature is the predominance of feelings over reason. This makes the child especially vulnerable and susceptible to nervous shocks. From the point of view of adults, the causes of these upheavals sometimes seem insignificant, but they appear completely different to a child. Children are not yet able to fully comprehend the impressions they receive and evaluate them intelligently. Hence the so-called childhood fears that are so common in children, sometimes turning into a state of neurosis. Children are afraid of everything unknown and incomprehensible.

Children suffer when they cannot comprehend the situation in which they have to live. For example, they cannot resolve family conflicts and judge who is right and who is wrong in family quarrels. Children find themselves in a tangle of contradictory experiences, and the strength of these experiences is more acute for them than for adults.

You can often hear from adults: “He’s still small, he doesn’t understand anything.” This idea of little ones frees parents from responsibility for their behavior. Adults forget that this “misunderstanding” is what children can suffer from. Adults rarely think about the irreparable harm they cause to children by making them participants in their quarrels. The atmosphere of hostility in which a child has to live can cause his nervous condition.

Peculiarity preschool age- close connection between the psyche and physical condition. We could say the same about adults, but in children this connection is even more direct.

The appearance of nervousness most often occurs in physically weakened children. And during childhood a large number falls infectious diseases, representing fertile ground for the emergence of nervous conditions.

In the case histories of nervous children, we also find references to various factors that adversely affect the nervous system. Adverse factors can be prenatal - an unsuccessful pregnancy of the mother, trauma during childbirth, postpartum - infections, head bruises, etc. Each of these harmful factors can cause an independent, sometimes serious illness, but most often it weakens the child’s nervous system. Children with a weak nervous system do not adapt well to the environment and are not able to overcome difficulties that are easily overcome by healthy children. It is children with a weakened nervous system who most often develop neuroses.

Typically, in children of preschool and school age, with neuroses, the function of certain internal organs, and most often the one that was weakened earlier. Thus, nervous vomiting, upset of the digestive organs, and loss of appetite occur after suffering from dysentery or dyspepsia. Those functions that have not yet become stronger are also upset: enuresis (urinary incontinence) or speech disorder appears; Usually, stuttering or loss of speech (which happens with severe shocks) occurs in children with delays in speech development or with any other defects.

Prevention of nervous breakdowns in school-age children

Older preschoolers and younger schoolchildren also experience other symptoms of nervousness, for example: frequent movement disorders - tics, obsessive movements.

The various symptoms of nervousness are never isolated. In neurotic conditions, the entire appearance of the child changes. He becomes lethargic and lacking initiative or, on the contrary, too active and fussy, and loses control over his behavior.

In such children, performance decreases and attention deteriorates. If the cause of the nervous condition is not eliminated, the child’s character changes. He may remain in the future just as lethargic and lacking initiative, or excitable and undisciplined.

Nervous children are more easily susceptible to bad influences, since they are not capable of nervous tension and cannot resist their own impulses. However, one should not draw too gloomy conclusions from what has been said. An examination of adults who were treated in childhood for certain manifestations of nervousness shows us that most of them are healthy, study and work successfully.

The child's psyche is flexible and viable. Under favorable conditions, children recover.

Treating a neurologically ill child is a rewarding task. Even when child psychiatrists have to deal with severe neuroses, it is sometimes possible to cure the child mainly with ordinary pedagogical techniques that can also be applied at home.

The main method of treating neurologically ill children is psychotherapy. This method is used by both doctors and teachers, although the latter do not call it that. One of the methods of psychotherapy is a change in environment, elimination of the cause that caused the disease, and an influx of new joyful impressions.

Along with this, another method of psychotherapy should be used, which in the language of psychiatrists is called “speech”. This means treatment with words. The authoritative word of the teacher is of enormous importance in the treatment of neurologically ill children.

One of the effective psychotherapeutic techniques is the so-called stimulation method. With this method, the goal is to awaken in the child a desire to get well. Our ultimate goal is for the child to put his own efforts into recovery and thereby learn to overcome life’s obstacles in the future. When applying this method, the teacher’s word is especially significant.

Even the youngest children experience victory over an illness as a victory—they become more self-confident and more cheerful.

A child has tantrums. Brief bouts of hysterics are sometimes useful. Hysterics relieve internal tension and provide an outlet for accumulated negative emotions. Therefore, perceive tantrums in a child as an age-related inevitability.

Child's tantrums

Causes of tantrums in a child

Drawing attention to yourself. Hysteria is the surest way to achieve this. Therefore, spend as much time as possible with your baby. Before guests arrive, try to keep your child busy with some interesting game;
breakdown. A nervous breakdown can occur if a child really wants to do or receive something, but is deprived of it. Or if a child is forced to do something that he opposes with all his soul. Therefore, adults need to defend their position on very important issues; on trifles, you can give in to a child. Let the baby put on a T-shirt that he likes, take a toy that he chose for a walk;
hunger. Children may become irritable if they are hungry;
fatigue, overexcitement. Don't demand too much from your baby. Let him rest more often during the day - this will help relieve emotional stress.
confusion. They don't allow you to do something, but they don't explain why. Or mom allows it, but dad forbids it;

What to do if hysteria starts?

Distract your baby. Take them to the window and look out at the street together. Offer to go for a walk.
If your baby cries loudly, try to “cry” with him. Gradually reduce the volume of your crying and switch to sniffing. The baby will most likely begin to copy you. Take a deep breath and calm down. Caress the baby.
If a baby starts roaring in a crowded place, sometimes you shouldn’t rush to “evacuate”. Let the baby let off steam, relieve his soul, and then follow you.
Use distracting toys. The child frowned and prepared for a tantrum? You can give him a drum or other strong musical instrument in his hands, let him rip out the evil. Or you can show some interesting thing - to distract attention.

Prevention of nervous breakdowns and neuroses in children

The two main states of the cells of the cerebral cortex (the organ of mental activity) are excitation and inhibition. Due to the processes of excitation, those actions are performed that satisfy our needs and desires that arose under the influence environment or reserves available to us, previous impressions - the so-called psychological attitudes.

Mechanisms of nervous breakdowns in children

Due to the processes of inhibition, the excessive activity of our actions is suppressed, the implementation of which would lead to an undesirable conflict with the environment, primarily the social environment.

If previously it was believed that all mental activity is concentrated only in the cerebral cortex, then modern science, indicates the role of subcortical (located in the depths of the brain) formations. Their condition largely determines the excitation and inhibition of cortical cells.

The functioning of the cerebral cortex is also affected by the state of the whole organism. Against the background of certain constitutional characteristics of the body, certain forms of neurotic reactions more often develop. General diseases (infectious, endocrine, hematogenous, etc.), weakening the body as a whole and the nervous system inextricably linked with it, make it more vulnerable and increase the likelihood of neurosis due to certain “psychological” hazards, which are the main cause neurosis.

I.P. Pavlov and his school established that a nervous breakdown (neurosis) occurs through one of three physiological mechanisms:

when excitation processes are overloaded;
when braking processes are overloaded;
when they “collide”, i.e. when excitation and inhibition collide simultaneously.

Most often, a breakdown occurs due to the mechanism of overload of excitation processes. When, at an appointment with a psychoneurologist, parents bring a child with any nervous influence (fears, insomnia, irritability, moodiness, stuttering, twitching, night terrors, etc.), then in the overwhelming majority of cases they confidently declare that the cause is mental damage child, first of all, fear. At first glance, everything is clear. The child still has a weak nervous system, and the sharp, frightening impression was too strong for her. This leads to recommendations: create a protective, gentle child for such a child, devoid of any harsh impressions.

However, if we think about the mechanism of the formation of a nervous breakdown and take a closer look and analyze what is happening here, a completely different picture will suddenly open before us. As leading Russian psychoneurologists have repeatedly emphasized, neurosis in adults never arises from the strength or nature of the stimulus, but only from its, as we say, “signal value,” i.e. neurosis is caused not by the visual, auditory, painful and other impressions themselves, but by what is associated with them in the mind this person, in his life experience. For example, the sight of a burning building can cause neurosis only if a person knows (or assumes) that someone dear to him and something valuable to him is dying in the fire.

The child does not have sufficient personal life experience and judges the danger or safety of what is happening by the reaction of adults, primarily parents and educators.

Examples:

The girl, already a schoolgirl, is terrified of mice, even in pictures. Otherwise, she is even a brave girl: she is not afraid of dogs or cows. What's the matter? It turns out that when she was still in kindergarten, during class a mouse scurried into the corner and the teacher (the highest authority for the children) jumped onto the table with a squeal, thereby reinforcing the unconscious perception that “there is no beast worse than a mouse.”

A six-year-old boy, being in a circus at a performance with trained bears, saw a bear heading in his direction on a motorcycle, screamed wildly with fear and at first was completely speechless, and then stuttered for a long time. What's the matter? Why do thousands of children look with pleasure at trained bears, but he became neurotic? It turned out that when he was 2-3 years old, if he did not obey, his grandmother would scare him that a bear would come, and thus the image of a bear heading towards him became a symbol of the most terrible danger.

It is interesting that in another case, a four-year-old girl, who at a circus performance was hugged by a bear bursting into the audience, despite the truly extreme danger, not only was not afraid, but later said: “After all, this is a learned bear, he knows how to hug.”

Many such examples can be given.

Children are usually “braver” than adults: they are not afraid to climb tall trees, make fires in the apartment, even stick their hand into an animal’s cage, and only instructions from adults that threaten them with something develop their fear of such actions.

Experience shows that children who have developed neurosis from some kind of “fright” have previously repeatedly experienced incomparably stronger shocks (bruises, burns, animal bites, punishment, etc.), causing them to cry for a short time, since they were not accompanied by appropriate warning from adults about their danger. Even strong pain neither a child nor an adult will cause neurosis if they know that it is safe (no one became neurotic from toothache), but moderate unpleasant sensations can become the basis of persistent neurosis if the person experiencing them believes that they are dangerous (as often squeezing a sensation in the heart area leads to severe cardioneurosis - obsessive fear for one’s heart.

Even in cases where a child has real grief caused by truly tragic events (for example, the death of a mother), affection and a calm explanation can gradually console the child and prevent this grief from developing into persistent neurosis.

How younger child, the less developed the inhibitory processes are in its cortex and the more easily they break down when overloaded. This happens if the child is constantly shouted: “You can’t!”, “Stop it!”, “Don’t touch!”, “Sit still!”

The child has the right to a joyful, active life; he should play, run, and even play pranks. Give him more freedom and independence. It is possible and necessary to prohibit, as has already been said, only what is absolutely unacceptable, but in this case it is necessary to prohibit firmly and unconditionally.

The disruption of the inhibitory process and the development of uncontrollability is also facilitated by the frequent use of punishments associated with long-term deprivation of freedom and mobility: they are put in a corner, deprived of walks, etc. Deprivation of freedom, overloading the inhibitory process, always increases aggressiveness. That is why a chained (chained) dog is synonymous with anger.

According to the mechanism of “collision” of excitation and inhibition, neurosis can arise when the same event or action has both positive and negative reinforcement. For example, a child experiences tenderness for his newborn brother and at the same time hostility towards him because he distracts the mother’s attention; or at the same time feels love for the father leaving the family, and hatred towards him for this. However, more often such a breakdown occurs through the fault of the parents, when today the child is punished for something that yesterday went unpunished; when one parent allows or even encourages something that the other scolds; when at home they indulge in what they punish for in kindergarten or school.

Regardless of which of these three mechanisms a nervous breakdown occurs in a child, it is consolidated and turns into a persistent neurosis if it begins to bring any real or moral benefits, as we discussed above.

We are used to attributing unusual behavior of a child to whims, poor upbringing or adolescence. But this may not be as harmless as it seems at first glance. This can mask the symptoms of a child’s nervous disorder.

Psychologist, creator of the psychological studio “Step to Happiness” Tatyana Markina explains how neuropsychic disorders in children can manifest themselves,

how to recognize psychological trauma

and what parents definitely need to pay attention to.

These symptoms usually manifest themselves in behavior.

If you notice that your child is acting strangely, this may be one of the symptoms of a nervous disorder.

The child does not make eye contact, does not speak, often has tantrums, cries or is sad all the time, does not play with other children, is aggressive at the slightest provocation, is hyperexcitable, has difficulty maintaining attention, ignores rules of behavior, is fearful, is overly passive, has tics, is obsessive. movements, stuttering, enuresis, frequent nightmares.

Remember: what is normal at one age may indicate a problem at another.

For example, lack of speech or poor vocabulary is not typical for children older than 4–5 years. Stormy hysterics and tears - method 2–3 year old child test parents' strength and find out the boundaries of acceptable, but inappropriate behavior for a schoolchild.

Do not think that they want to humiliate you or accuse you of something, compare the information and draw your own conclusions. Perhaps an outside perspective will be a necessary hint, and you will be able to help your child in time: visit a psychologist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist, neurologist. Neuropsychiatric disorders in children are treatable, the main thing is not to let the situation get worse.

Read also: Psychologist: “The main feeling with which children talk about their parents is fear”

Causes of nervous disorder in children

The most sensitive period: from birth to 1–1.5 years, when the baby’s personality is formed, his further ability to adequately perceive the world and adapt flexibly to it.

Often the source of problems is the system of relationships that has developed in the family and between mother and father, and the style of education.

Maintaining children's mental health: essential skills

Read literature, attend lectures and seminars on raising children, and engage in your own development as an individual.

Apply this knowledge in communication with your child. Don't hesitate to ask for help and advice.

How to prevent a nervous breakdown in a child? What are the symptoms? What parenting mistakes lead to a nervous breakdown in a child? About this and much more in this article.

Nervous breakdowns in children

Life constantly puts its “natural experiments” on us. Neuropsychic health depends on how strong our nervous system is, how trained it is to various kinds of surprises. It is most difficult for young children in this regard. The higher parts of their nervous system are still immature, are in the stage of formation, the protective mechanisms of the brain are imperfect, so a breakdown can easily occur and a neurotic disorder can develop. Incorrect methods of education, parents ignoring the possibility of a nervous breakdown in a child due to overexertion of the irritable or inhibitory process or their mobility often lead to sad results.

Let us explain with specific examples.

The child was frightened by a dog rushing at him, and he began to stutter. (There is an overstrain of the irritable process).
The mother forced her three-year-old daughter to eat, threatening her with a belt. The girl could not stand semolina porridge, but she “restrained” herself, ate through force, fearing punishment. As a result of overexertion of the inhibitory process, she developed anorexia - aversion to food and nervous vomiting.
The family broke up. The husband began a legal battle for the right to raise his son. The boy loved both his father and mother and did not want to part with either parent. And his father and mother alternately talked about each other to him, humiliated each other. As a result of overstraining the mobility of nervous processes and their disruption, the child developed night terrors.

Causes of nervous breakdown in children

Errors in education are one of the main causes of childhood nervous diseases. However, they are not necessarily the result of neglect or any malicious intent. Not at all. In some cases, if not in the majority, they are committed because parents do not know the mental, physiological, age characteristics characteristic of the child, and also because they do not always try to understand the reasons for this or that action of the child.

EXAMPLE:

Vova grew up as a very inquisitive boy. He asked so many questions during the day that one day his grandmother threatened him: “If you don’t shut up right now and call Baba Yaga, she will drag you into the forest.” - “And I’ll run away!” - “If you don’t run away, she will bewitch you and your legs will be taken away.” At this time they called. “You see,” said the grandmother and went to open the door. The postman entered the room, an old woman, gray-haired, all wrinkled. Vova understood immediately; Baba Yaga! He noticed with horror that Baba Yaga was looking straight at him. “I don’t want to go to the forest! “The boy wanted to scream, but his voice disappeared. He decided to run to another room, but his legs didn’t work, they “went to sleep.” Vova fell to the floor. An ambulance was called. The boy was admitted to the hospital. He could neither walk nor speak, he lay all the time with his eyes tightly closed.

We have told you only about one fairly personal case of adult misbehavior that led to a nervous breakdown. Intimidation can also be of this order; “If you behave badly, your aunt doctor will give you an injection,” or “I’ll give it to your uncle the policeman,” or “If you don’t obey, the dog will drag you away”... And now the harmless, tail-wagging Ball, running up to the baby, becomes a super-strong irritant, and the doctor, who comes to a sick child causes horror in him. The “buka” that the parents used to scare him appears to the baby in his sleep at night, and he wakes up in the country, screams, and cannot calm down for a long time. Fear as a result of intimidation often causes a stressful situation and becomes the cause of a neurotic reaction. In unprepared, impressionable children (with weakened nervous processes), fear can even be caused by the appearance of “mummers” at a children’s matinee, the aggressiveness of a wild animal in the zoo, or acute anxiety when aerialists perform in the circus.

EXAMPLE:

Yura attended the New Year's party for the first time in his life. He liked everything about the holiday. He looked in amazement at the huge Christmas tree in the middle of the hall, all covered in sparkles, toys, garlands, and colorful lights. Near the Christmas tree, Santa Claus led a round dance with the children. Yura, timid at first, became bolder and came closer to the round dance. Cheerful lop-eared hares jumped around him, and a red fox ran past. Suddenly Yura noticed how a large brown bear came out from behind the tree, waddling from one foot to the other, with its paws outstretched - “completely for real.” The bear headed towards Yura. Now he’s already very close, now he’s already raised his paws over Yura. The boy noticed terrible claws. And he screamed shrilly and rushed to the first door he came across. The door was locked. Then he hung on the handle, fell, and began to hit his head and hands on the floor.

Factors that cause nervous breakdown in young children:

Acute unexpected fear.
A long-term psychotraumatic situation, which gradually causes stress, leads to confusion and a nervous breakdown.

Prevention of nervous breakdowns in preschool children

With the wrong methods of upbringing, children can develop undesirable character traits and bad habits.

Examples of life situations

As it turned out, the boy was not stupid at all: he showed curiosity that was natural at his age. And yet in front of this is clearly a sick child.

Then mom said:

Misha, you'll get your new suit dirty. Take a newspaper, lay it down and then you can lie down on it.

The disorder of orders caused the same chaotic state in his nervous system. Continuous painful stimulation also undoubtedly had a harmful effect on his nervous system.

Let us add to these convincing words the fact that fear and pain upset the nervous system.

Preschool age has peculiar features that leave an imprint on the neurotic manifestations of the child.

A special feature of preschool age is the close connection between the psyche and the physical state. We could say the same about adults, but in children this connection is even more direct.

The appearance of nervousness most often occurs in physically weakened children. And during childhood, a large number of infectious diseases occur, which provide fertile ground for the emergence of nervous conditions.

Usually, in children of preschool and school age, with neuroses, the function of certain internal organs is upset, and most often the one that was weakened earlier. Thus, nervous vomiting, upset of the digestive organs, and loss of appetite occur after suffering from dysentery or dyspepsia. Those functions that have not yet become stronger are also upset: enuresis (urinary incontinence) or speech disorder appears; Usually, stuttering or loss of speech (which happens with severe shocks) occurs in children with delays in speech development or with any other defects.

Prevention of nervous breakdowns in school-age children

Older preschoolers and younger schoolchildren also experience other symptoms of nervousness, for example: frequent movement disorders - tics, obsessive movements.

The child's psyche is flexible and viable. Under favorable conditions, children recover.

Even the youngest children experience victory over an illness as a victory - they become more self-confident and more cheerful.

Child's tantrums

Causes of tantrums in a child

Drawing attention to yourself. Hysteria is the surest way to achieve this. Therefore, spend as much time as possible with your baby. Before guests arrive, try to keep your child busy with some interesting game;
breakdown. A nervous breakdown can occur if a child really wants to do or receive something, but is deprived of it. Or if a child is forced to do something that he opposes with all his soul. Therefore, adults need to defend their position on very important issues; on trifles, you can give in to a child. Let the baby put on a T-shirt that he likes, take a toy that he chose for a walk;
hunger. Children may become irritable if they are hungry;
fatigue, overexcitement. Don't demand too much from your baby. Let him rest more often during the day - this will help relieve emotional stress.
confusion. They don't allow you to do something, but they don't explain why. Or mom allows it, but dad forbids it;

What to do if hysteria starts?

Distract your baby. Take them to the window and look out at the street together. Offer to go for a walk.
If your baby cries loudly, try to “cry” with him. Gradually reduce the volume of your crying and switch to sniffing. The baby will most likely begin to copy you. Take a deep breath and calm down. Caress the baby.
If your baby starts roaring in a crowded place, sometimes you shouldn’t rush to “evacuate.” Let the baby let off steam, relieve his soul, and then follow you.
Use distracting toys. The child frowned and prepared for a tantrum? You can give him a drum or other strong musical instrument in his hands, let him rip out the evil. Or you can show some interesting thing - to distract attention.

Prevention of nervous breakdowns and neuroses in children

The two main states of the cells of the cerebral cortex (the organ of mental activity) are excitation and inhibition. Due to the processes of excitation, those actions are performed that satisfy our needs and desires, which arose under the influence of the environment or the reserves available to us, previous impressions - the so-called psychological attitudes.

Mechanisms of nervous breakdowns in children

If previously it was believed that all mental activity is concentrated only in the cerebral cortex, then modern science testifies to the role of subcortical (located in the depths of the brain) formations. Their condition largely determines the excitation and inhibition of cortical cells.

I.P. Pavlov and his school established that a nervous breakdown (neurosis) occurs through one of three physiological mechanisms:

when excitation processes are overloaded;
when braking processes are overloaded;
when they “collide”, i.e. when excitation and inhibition collide simultaneously.

However, if we think about the mechanism of the formation of a nervous breakdown and take a closer look and analyze what is happening here, a completely different picture will suddenly open before us. As leading Russian psychoneurologists have repeatedly emphasized, neurosis in adults never arises from the strength or nature of the stimulus, but only from its, as we say, “signal value,” i.e. neurosis is caused not by the visual, auditory, painful and other impressions themselves, but by what is associated with them in the consciousness of a given person, in his life experience. For example, the sight of a burning building can cause neurosis only if a person knows (or assumes) that someone dear to him and something valuable to him is dying in the fire.

The child does not have sufficient personal life experience and judges the danger or safety of what is happening by the reaction of adults, primarily parents and educators.

Examples:

Many such examples can be given.

Experience shows that children who have developed neurosis from some kind of “fright” have previously repeatedly experienced incomparably stronger shocks (bruises, burns, animal bites, punishment, etc.), causing them to cry for a short time, since they were not accompanied by appropriate warning from adults about their danger. Even severe pain in neither a child nor an adult will cause neurosis if they know that it is safe (no one has become neurotic from toothache), but moderate unpleasant sensations can become the basis of persistent neurosis if the person experiencing them believes that they are dangerous ( how often a squeezing sensation in the heart area leads to severe cardioneurosis - obsessive fear for one’s heart.

The younger the child, the less developed the inhibitory processes are in his cortex and the more easily they break down when overloaded. This happens if the child is constantly shouted: “You can’t!”, “Stop it!”, “Don’t touch!”, “Sit still!”

Children these days often experience neurological disorders. Experts note that approximately half of schoolchildren suffer from emotional instability at certain periods. Sometimes such deviations are temporary, but in some cases they lead to nervous disorders in children, the treatment of which requires the help of a neurologist.

Warning signs

the occurrence of hallucinations;

Any child psychotherapy is aimed at reducing anxiety and combating fears, reducing feelings of guilt and resentment, developing the ability to withstand stress and find a way out of the most difficult situations.

Nervous disorders in children - symptoms, causes, treatment

Children these days often experience neurological disorders. Experts note that approximately half of schoolchildren suffer from emotional instability at certain periods.

Nervous disorders in children - symptoms, causes, treatment
Warning signs
Forms of nervous disorders in children
What mistakes do parents make?
How to treat nervous disorders in children?
Nervous disorders in children: what parents should know
Signs of nervous breakdowns in teenagers
Signs and forms of a nervous breakdown in children
Treatment of children
Signs and causes of nervous breakdown in teenagers
Treatment of adolescents
Nervous breakdown: symptoms and consequences
What is a nervous breakdown?
Causes
In women during pregnancy
In children
In teenagers
Signs of a nervous breakdown
Symptoms of a nervous breakdown
Stages of development
Possible consequences of a nervous breakdown
Why is the disease dangerous?
How to prevent the condition
What to do if you have a nervous breakdown
Treatment at home
Medications - sedative injections, tablets
Treatment with folk remedies
Which doctor should I contact?
Prevention of nervous disorders
Nervous breakdown in a child
Signs of the development of neurosis in a child are:
NERVOUS BREAKDOWNS IN CHILDREN
How does a nervous breakdown develop?
Causes of nervous breakdowns
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Sometimes such deviations are temporary, but in some cases they lead to nervous disorders in children, the treatment of which requires the help of a neurologist.

Warning signs

It is very important not to miss the first signs of nervous disorders in a child in order to take timely measures and prevent chronic neuroses in children. It is not difficult to prevent a serious nervous disorder in children based on symptoms. Warning factors that parents should pay attention to include:

clear advance of peers in mental development;
loss of interest in life in a child, due to which he stops taking care of himself;
excessive interest in a certain subject at school;
the occurrence of hallucinations;
the child often lies or constantly fantasizes seriously.

These are the main symptoms of a nervous disorder in a child in the initial stages, at which the disorder can be prevented.

Forms of nervous disorders in children

The most popular deviation for a nervous disorder in children is a nervous tic. It is an unconscious movement manifested in the form of cheek twitching, shrugging, smacking for no reason, hand movements, etc. A nervous tic is a sign of a nervous disorder in a child, which occurs when the baby does not make conscious movements and remains in a calm state. As soon as he does something, the tic will disappear.

The next nervous disorder in a child, the treatment of which will require more serious treatment, is neurosis. This is an irreversible disorder, but the dangerous thing is that parents often ignore its signs, exacerbating the situation. Signs of neuroses include obsessive movements, fears, phobias, depression and hysterics, tearfulness, sadness, quiet speech and panic.

Insomnia and worsening sleep is another form of nervous disorder in a child. The baby begins to sleep restlessly, tossing and turning in his sleep and constantly waking up. In their sleep, children begin to talk, and the dreams themselves become very real for them.

Stuttering is a symptom of a nervous disorder in children around three years of age. Neurotic stuttering usually develops during the period of speech establishment. It can arise due to information overload or separation from loved ones. Don't try to speed up your baby's development by trying to turn him into a child prodigy.

Nervous allergies, in which it is very difficult to physically identify any allergen. It is also called idiopathic allergy.

Disorders and nervous breakdowns in a 5-year-old child have different symptoms and treatment, but they are usually associated with improper upbringing. Parents sometimes use punishment systems or provide total control, and in some families there is a difficult environment with constant scandals - all these factors significantly aggravate the state of the child’s nervous system.

What mistakes do parents make?

Often, loving parents are somehow to blame for the occurrence of neurosis in a child. To avoid treatment for nervous disorders in children, parents should try to avoid common mistakes:

You cannot overload a child by sending him to two schools, clubs, etc.;
You cannot let your child understand that the parents’ favor must be earned (feel free to demonstrate your love);
parents note personal shortcomings in their children and try to eradicate them - this is also a mistake;
the child should not see scandals in the family;
if the child’s mother does not work, she should not surround the baby with excessive care.

How to treat nervous disorders in children?

The treatment of symptoms of nervous disorders in children is based on different methods of psychotherapy. Often this is a conscious, systematic and gradual weakening of the manifestations of the disorder using psychological means - verbal or non-verbal, depending on the age of the child.

When very young children experience a nervous disorder, it is best to carry out treatment with the whole family. As for older children, family psychotherapy works less effectively for them, especially when the parents have personality disorders and themselves need individual psychotherapy.

Therapy using pharmacological agents is used as an additional method. Medications without psychotherapy, they can only suppress the symptoms of a nervous disorder in a child, but it is necessary first of all to eliminate the causes that cause a nervous disorder in a child.

Source: Disorders in Children: What Parents Should Know

The health of the child is a natural subject of concern for parents, often already from the period of pregnancy. Cough, snot, fever, sore stomach, rash - and we run to the doctor, look for information on the Internet, buy medicine. But there are also non-obvious symptoms of ill health that we are used to turning a blind eye to, believing that the child will “outgrow it,” “it’s all wrong upbringing,” or “he just has that kind of character.”

These symptoms usually manifest themselves in behavior. If you notice that your child is acting strangely, this may be one of the symptoms of a nervous disorder. The child does not make eye contact, does not speak, often has tantrums, cries or is sad all the time, does not play with other children, is aggressive at the slightest provocation, is hyperexcitable, has difficulty maintaining attention, ignores rules of behavior, is fearful, is overly passive, has tics, is obsessive. movements, stuttering, enuresis, frequent nightmares.

Symptoms of a nervous disorder in a child

In adolescence, this can be a constantly depressed mood or apathy, sudden mood swings, eating disorders (gluttony, refusal to eat, strange food preferences), deliberate self-infliction (cuts, burns), cruelty and dangerous behavior, deterioration in school performance from -forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, regular use of alcohol and psychoactive drugs.

Also characterized by increased impulsiveness and low self-control, increased fatigue over a long period, hatred of oneself and one's body, ideas that others are hostile and aggressive, suicidal thoughts or attempts, bizarre beliefs, hallucinations (visions, sounds, sensations).

Panic attacks, fears and severe anxiety, excruciating headaches, insomnia, psychosomatic manifestations (ulcers, disorders) may occur. blood pressure, bronchial asthma, neurodermatitis).

The list of symptoms of mental and nervous disorders is, of course, wider. It is necessary to pay attention to all unusual, strange and alarming moments in the child’s behavior, taking into account their persistence and duration of manifestation.

Remember: what is normal at one age may indicate a problem at another. For example, lack of speech or poor vocabulary is not typical for children older than 4–5 years. Stormy tantrums and tears are a way for a 2-3 year old child to test their parents’ strength and learn the boundaries of acceptable, but inappropriate behavior for a schoolchild.

Fears of strangers, losing your mother, darkness, death, natural disasters are natural, according to age norms, up to early adolescence. Later, phobias may indicate troubled mental life. Make sure that you yourself do not demand your child to be more mature than he actually is. The mental health of preschool children largely depends on their parents.

Carefully observe how the child behaves in different situations and different environments, what he is like at home, and how he plays with children on the playground, in kindergarten, whether there are problems at school and with friends. If educators, teachers, or other parents complain to you about your child’s behavior, do not take it to heart, but clarify what exactly bothers them, how often it happens, what the details and circumstances are.

Stigma around mental health problems and disorders is still prevalent in our society. This causes additional pain for the people who suffer from them and their relatives. Shame, fear, confusion and anxiety prevent you from seeking help when time passes and problems get worse.

According to statistics, in the United States, where psychiatric and psychological care is provided much better than in Ukraine, on average 8–10 years pass between the appearance of the first symptoms and seeking help. Whereas about 20% of children have some kind of mental disorder. Half of them actually outgrow them, adapt, and compensate.

Causes of nervous disorder in children

Mental disorders often have a genetic, organic basis, but this is not a death sentence. With the help of upbringing in a favorable environment, they can be avoided or their manifestations can be significantly reduced.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true: violence, traumatic experiences, including sexual, emotional and educational neglect, bullying, dysfunctional or criminal family environments greatly harm the development of children, causing them unhealed psychological wounds.

The attitude of parents towards the child from birth to 3 years of age, how the pregnancy and the first months after birth proceeded, the emotional state of the mother during this period lay the foundations for the mental health of the child. The most sensitive period: from birth to 1–1.5 years, when the baby’s personality is formed, his further ability to adequately perceive the world around him and flexibly adapt to it.

Serious illnesses of the mother and child, her physical absence, strong emotional experiences and stress, as well as abandonment of the baby, minimal physical and emotional contact with him (feeding and changing diapers are not enough for normal development) are risk factors for the appearance of disorders.

What to do if you think your child is behaving strangely? The same as with fever: look for a specialist and seek help. Depending on the symptoms, either a neurologist, a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a psychotherapist can help.

Nervous disorders in children: treatment

The doctor will prescribe medications and procedures, the psychologist and psychotherapist, with the help of special classes, exercises, conversations, will teach the child to communicate, control his behavior, express himself in socially acceptable ways, help resolve internal conflict, get rid of fears and other negative experiences. Sometimes a speech therapist or special education teacher may be needed.

Not all difficulties require the intervention of doctors. Sometimes a child reacts painfully to sudden changes in the family: the divorce of parents, conflicts between them, the birth of a brother or sister, the death of one of the close relatives, the appearance of new partners with parents, moving, starting to attend kindergarten or school. Often the source of problems is the system of relationships that has developed in the family and between mother and father, parenting style.

Be prepared that you yourself may need to consult a psychologist. Moreover, it is often enough to work with adults so that the child calms down and his unwanted manifestations disappear. Take responsibility. “Do something with him. I can’t do it anymore,” this is not the position of an adult.

Maintaining children's mental health: essential skills

empathy - the ability to read and understand the feelings, emotions and state of another person without merging with him, imagining the two as one;
the ability to express in words your feelings, needs, desires;
the ability to hear and understand another, to conduct a dialogue;
the ability to establish and maintain psychological boundaries of the individual;
the tendency to see the source of control of one's life in oneself without falling into guilt or omnipotence.

Read literature, attend lectures and seminars on raising children, and engage in your own development as an individual. Apply this knowledge in communication with your child. Don't hesitate to ask for help and advice.

Because the main task of parents is to love the child, accept his imperfections (as well as your own), protect his interests, create favorable conditions for the development of his own individuality, without replacing it with your dreams and ambitions for an ideal child. And then your little sun will grow up healthy and happy, able to love and care.

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Source: Nervous Breakdowns in Teens

Signs and forms of a nervous breakdown in children

Parents need to monitor their child and note actions that become habitual. A nervous breakdown manifests itself differently in each person, and the same applies to children. One person withdraws into himself, while others, on the contrary, prefer to scream loudly and throw tantrums. If your child has taken up the habit of rolling on the floor and screaming wildly, it is best to contact a neurologist who can dispel all doubts. According to experts, neurosis occurs solely due to internal conflict, which causes the emotional state to become unbalanced.

The main warning factors include the following symptoms:

The occurrence of hallucinations;
Achievement in mental development of their peers;
The child begins to fantasize or deceive in all seriousness;
Lost interest in life;
Strong interest in one subject at school (overindulgence).

These symptoms appear only at the initial stage of a nervous breakdown, and to prevent their development, contact a neurologist in a timely manner.

How do nervous disorders manifest in children?

Nervous tic. Very often, nervous disorders in children manifest themselves in this form, which is expressed in unconscious twitching of the limbs, cheeks, shrugging of shoulders, unreasonable movement of the hand, smacking, and so on. If you notice a nervous tic in a child when he is in a calm state, this is the first sign of a nervous disorder. With active activity, the tic disappears.
Poor sleep or insomnia. If your child previously slept well, but suddenly begins to toss and turn frequently, sleep restlessly and wakes up very often, you should also pay attention to this symptom. In this form of the disorder, children also talk during sleep, and it becomes very realistic.
Neurosis. This is the most serious form of manifestation of the disease and parents should pay special attention to the following symptoms: sadness, hysteria, phobias, frequent fears, obsessive movements, quiet speech, depression, panic. As soon as you notice these symptoms, consult a specialist immediately.
Stuttering. This form of the disorder occurs in children around three years of age. During this period, the baby learns to talk. It is very important not to overload the child, as due to the information load, he may experience stress. Ultimately, what matters is the healthy child, not the potential child prodigy. Stuttering also occurs when separated from loved ones.
Enuresis. When a child experiences a strong shock or overstimulation, he wets the bed. During this period, unstable mood, numerous whims and increased tearfulness are noted.
Anorexia. This form of nervous disorder results in loss of appetite. If a child was forced to eat in childhood, then in adolescence this, as a rule, “results” in the desire for a slim figure. It is best to treat anorexia at an early age, as adolescents exhibit greater independence and rely on their inexperience.

Note the child’s shortcomings, constantly pointing out their weakness, as if trying to eradicate them. In this case, it is better to concentrate on the wealth that needs to be acquired;
Sending a child to two schools, clubs and other sections that he does not like, creating an overload;
Excessive guardianship of a child;
Scandals in the family;
Show that the child must achieve favor with his parents, earn it. Try to show your love.

Treatment of children

As for the use of medications, they are used as an addition and only in advanced cases. Drugs, of course, can ease anxiety and temporarily cure a breakdown, but if the cause is not removed, which can be resolved exclusively with a psychotherapist, the disease will return again and, perhaps, with greater force.

What should parents do if their child has a nervous breakdown?

As a rule, children accumulate tension in kindergarten or at home, which sooner or later breaks out. If you feel your child is on the verge of a tantrum, try the following:

When the baby is already at the limit and ready to throw a tantrum, smile at him, kiss him and tell him a joke.
Try to redirect the child's attention. This needs to be done sharply to cause surprise. One way is to pretend to be hysterical, making a preemptive move. In some cases, this causes surprise and reassurance.

What should you do if your child has already had a nervous breakdown:

Place your child in a cool shower. If he is unable to do this on his own, pick him up and take him to the bath. As a last resort, splash cold water on your face or put ice, a bag of frozen vegetables, or a towel soaked in cold water on your forehead. As you know, cold water slows down reactions in the body, negative energy is washed away, emotions recede;
Use the mirror technique. The point is to repeat all the actions that the baby does. At a young age, this causes great surprise and reassurance, hysteria is replaced by curiosity;
If an attack occurs, remove all dangerous objects away, as the child does not understand what he is doing and does not control himself. He can easily pick up an object and throw it wherever he wants;
Create an environment of privacy. Some people calm down when left alone, but you still need to watch your baby discreetly.

What actions should be taken after a hysteria has occurred:

Prepare hot tea and add a couple of drops of motherwort. This will calm the nervous system, the brain will come into balance, and the child will fall asleep;
Brew herbal teas with St. John's wort, mint, motherwort, fennel, and lavender more often. This is especially true if the child often cries and breaks down.

Do not forget about other preventive measures, in particular, B vitamins can remove negative emotional reactions and reduce the amount of stress. Cookies, cheese, egg yolk, beets, tomatoes, pears, spinach, cauliflower, carrots and other fermented milk products are very beneficial for the nervous system. It has recently been proven that folic acid helps reduce the amount of the amino acid homocysteine, which has elevated levels in children prone to hysteria and nervous breakdown.

Signs and causes of nervous breakdown in teenagers

Probably every person with age looks at the younger generation with caution, comparing his youth with the modern generation. In any case, it can be noted that teenagers behave extremely defiantly, noisily, aggressively and obscenely. At home, of course, almost everyone follows the rules of decency, but at school or on the street, behavior most often changes greatly. As a result, individuals who are very trusting, subject to strong emotions and unable to protect themselves, receive psychological injuries, and they hit a person an order of magnitude harder than physical ones.

What causes contribute to the development of a nervous breakdown?

Unfavorable group among friends or at school;

Inability to stand up for yourself and defend your point of view;

Unfavorable climate within the family;

Lack of a favorite activity;

Frequent stress and emotional tension.

Signs of a nervous breakdown:

The teenager begins to withdraw into himself, avoids all contact with friends, blames others;
Shows excessive activity. However, this is much less common, since an outburst of emotions, even in the most primitive and ugly form, helps a person get rid of negativity;
During relaxation, the limbs of the body begin to twitch;
Poor sleep and insomnia;
Constant dialogues and disputes within the individual;
Depression and apathy towards the surrounding world.

Treatment of adolescents

Like any treatment for a nervous breakdown, adolescents must follow certain rules:

Avoid conflicting communication, surround yourself with a favorable society;
Drink herbal teas with soothing herbs more often;
Do light sports;
Listen to relaxing music;
If you wish, do yoga, meditation;
Be sure to contact a psychotherapist who will help solve pressing problems and identify the cause of a nervous breakdown.

I have an 11-year-old son, and I began to notice that lately he has begun to withdraw into himself more often. He is afraid to go outside for a walk again, he says that he is being chased by some unknown people in a car. At first I was scared, but then I realized that my son was making things up and he believed in his fiction, because there was no specifics, just a phobia. He also started wetting the bed at night, which hasn’t happened for three years now. We contacted a neurologist and are now undergoing an examination. Very worrying.

Good luck with your treatment

My daughter constantly lies about what imaginary friends she has, I thought it was just a child’s fantasy, but as it turned out, I need to turn to a specialist.

In teenagers, unfortunately, this becomes frequent illness. School, street, computer games all affect the nerves.

Often, nervous breakdowns in a child are a direct consequence of an unhealthy family environment. Often. Therefore, maybe before going to a neurologist you should restore psychological order in the house?!

I agree, an explosive atmosphere in the family and dislike of the child lead to breakdowns. It is not always possible to resolve a family situation on your own. You can also contact psychologists.

We probably need to observe the children more, constantly be interested in what is happening around them, and ask what worries them.

I think if you pay more attention to your child, talk to him more, it will be easier to understand him and the difficulties he has to face. Many parents have forgotten that they were teenagers too!

As for me, the most important signal to start worrying is a change in your child’s behavior and the more noticeable this change is, the more attention you need to pay to it, and then based on the results.

The teenage period is not easy, you don’t need to languish over your child like gold. During this period, you need to be friends with him and watch him, be interested in his hobbies.

Now teenagers are highly exposed to external factors, because before there was no Internet, computer games, social networks and other things. In addition, they always had something to do in the same circles, but now everything is completely different.

I believe that to avoid such nervous breakdowns, you need to spend more time with your child, communicating with him. This way you will find out what exactly is bothering him and how to help him!

There are many reasons for such a breakdown among teenagers, especially in our time. There’s the Internet, social networks, the environment, family problems, uncertainty, and the period itself is quite fragile from a psychological point of view.

I think it is very important for teenagers proper nutrition, vitamins and good sleep. And of course love, support, attention. Then there will definitely be fewer problems! If there are radical problems that a parent cannot solve, then it is better to see a psychologist.

We were all teenagers once; for some, this period is easier. Many problems in children are due to misunderstanding of parents, but all people learn from their mistakes. We need to give the child more oxygen!

I don’t even know under what circumstances and conditions a teenager can have a nervous breakdown, but it’s better, of course, not to let your child experience this. I understand, for example, nervous breakdowns in adults, but in teenagers this is really very rare - at least in my lifetime I have never noticed this.

I'll just say one thing. If a child is brought up in normal conditions, you work with him, talk to him often, and you have normal, trusting relationships, then you will thereby protect him from breakdowns. Of course, not everyone has such an opportunity, but we need to strive for it.

Adolescence is quite difficult, just remember yourself. Was I unbearable and what was I missing? A little more freedom and understanding on the part of parents.

Nowadays children are no longer who we were in our childhood. Many people isolate themselves in games, social networks and don’t go out much. In addition, there is the Internet, and there you can find a lot of things. The solution is family education and trusting relationships.

My parents didn’t even entertain the idea that I might have a nervous breakdown or stress. I hid it as best I could. Although it was hard, the climate was terrible at seven. Now I’m a mother myself, I’ll try to be more attentive to my son.

It seems to me that sometimes increased attention to a teenager is to blame for everything bad that happens to him. He sees that the mother is worried and tolerates him not to do anything, and the child continues, sometimes children need not only to be understood, but also to be punished, to be strict with them.

Still, the younger generation used to have less worries and stress. There were clubs, sports and so on. Now the Internet, social networks, games have appeared, and it is not surprising that such changes cause stress in many teenagers.