PART 2 OF MENTAL ILLNESS PSYCHRIATIC HOSPITALS WAS PART 1
wesayitoutloud.com, we are not doctors of any kind. We are not advising. This is an opinion page. But we urge you as parents to hug your kids. Say a prayer for those hurting. And most of all, pay attention to how your children are behaving and talk to them! Teach your children to be kind!
eliminate the stigma
Mental illness in teens is common. It’s also treatable. Parents often ignore signs of mental illness. Parents don’t seek help for their children until after the child has been showing signs for months or longer. This is mainly due to denial of the parents. There is an increase in kids struggling with mental health. It could be a side effect of the pandemic. Parents need to talk to their children. They need an open line of communication. When your child does to talk to you, listen. Life has become increasingly stressful for everyone, kids included. It’s time to eliminate the stigma that surrounds mental illness. If your child is sick or hurt, you address it. Mental illness is no different.
keep communication lines open
Talk to your kids. Don’t judge, listen. Kids often feel their parents don’t listen to them. Judging or lecturing your child after they have opened up to you is a sure fire way to get them to clam up. They are less likely to talk to you, again. Listen with an open mind. Ask your child if they would like advice. Ask your child’s doctor if they feel it warrants a visit. Mental health is like every other illness your child gets, take them to their doctor. Let your doctor decide what is the best course of action.
If you feel something is bothering your child or you can see his or her habits have changed, ask them. Let them know you are there if they want to talk. Ask them who they would feel comfortable talking with if they don’t want to talk to you. Don’t judge them for not wanting to talk to you. Again, speak to your child’s doctor.
the pandemic
Children’s lives revolve around school, activities, and friends. The pandemic took that from them. They have been isolated. They have been struggling to do school online. Online school doesn’t take nearly as long as being in school. After school activities were gone. There has been limited socialization and huge amounts of free time. Parents that work were either at work while the child was home alone or working from home and busy. This is no fault of the child or the parent. Our children like the rest of us were forced into this horrible situation. Now, there could be fallout.
For some video games, social media, or just being on the web is good. For others, it added to loneliness. Playing video games helped with socialization. It also sucked them in because people are online 27/7. Their sleep schedules are messed up. They can play games all night and sleep all day. This habit could have in turn, threw off eating habits. Think about it, did you ever stay up all night? How’d you feel the next day? All of this added to the stress.
emotional disorders
Emotional disorders are common in adolescents. Anxiety, worry, and panic are a little more common in older children. Depression and anxiety share some of the common symptoms including mood swings. Depression and anxiety can effect school work and attendance. These can lead to suicide.
behavioral disorders
These are a little more common in younger children. These include ADHD. Destructive and challenging behavior or not paying attention or excessive activity are symptoms. They can have little regard for consequences. These effect education and can lead to criminal behavior.
eating disorders
These kids can have a preoccupation with food and abnormal eating habits. They worry about body image including weight and shape. These symptoms need to be taken seriously. It’s not just that your child isn’t eating right or going through a phase. They can lead to death caused by medical complications or suicide. Eating disorders have a higher rate of death than any other mental disorder.
psychosis
These come in later teens or early adulthood. These people have delusions or hallucinations. There is a stigma around these illnesses. They can effect education as well as daily life.
suicide
Suicide is the 4th cause of death in older teens. There are risk factors. Abuse or abuse in childhood can contribute to a teen committing suicide. Use of alcohol and or drugs, are risk factors.
risky behavior
Substance abuse or risky sex start in adolescence. Risky behaviors can be a way of trying to deal with other difficulties. Males are most at risk for heavy drinking. Marijuana and tobacco use usually start at this age. Violence can lead to a poor education, injury, crime, or death.
bullying
If your child tells you they are being bullied, the first thing you want to do is let your child know that you heard them by validating what they have said to you. If you let them know you heard them, they will be more likely to keep talking. Tell them you are happy they told you. It can be helpful to explain why some children might be bullies. Kids sometimes, bully because they are unhappy themselves. Tell you child to not show the bully that their efforts are succeeding. If the bully knows he is succeeding they will keep bullying. They are more likely to stop if they know it’s not working. Parents can tell the school what is going on and make sure they monitor the situation.
So many times people say, “bullying isn’t a big deal.” “Kids have always bullied.” It is a big deal. It is so different now than it was when parents or grandparents were in school. Kids use to be able to come home to a safe space. There were no cell phone, tablets, laptops, and computers. It is almost like todays kids are unable to escape a bully. Take bullying very seriously. If you have a child who is a bully, tell them that the child they bully may snap one day. You can only push people so far until they snap. Everyone has a breaking point. Try teaching your children the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Seriously, this idea that kids will be kids is not working. Everyone should be teaching their kids the importance of kindness.
stop bullying . gov
another good resource for kids being bullied or being a bully
some possible signs your child is struggling
Signs vary depending on what could be wrong.
ANXIETY
Is your child restless? Are they having a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep, or never feel rested? Do they tire easily? Do they worry, too much? Are they irritable? Do they have trouble concentrating? All of these could be signs of anxiety.
SOCIAL ANXIETY
Does your child get anxious at the thought of being around people? Do they worry about what people think of them or avoid people? Do they feel physically ill, sweat, or tremble when around people. Does your child worry at the thought of being around people days or weeks before an event? Are they self-conscious? All of these can be a sign of social anxiety.
DEPRESSION
Are they sad? Is your child tired or have no energy? Are they irritable or pessimistic? Have they lost interest in things they normally like to do? Do they feel restless or anxious? Can they concentrate? Do they have thoughts of death or suicide? These are a few of the signs of depression.
factors in adolescent mental health
There are factors that can put a child at a higher risk of having mental illness. A child’s living conditions, being discriminated against or excluded, chronic illness, and Autism can add to the risk of mental illness. Teen pregnancy or being a teen parent can put them at higher risk. Forced marriages and being orphaned can add to mental illness as well. Sexuality can put your child into a higher risk category. Home life, harsh parenting, being abused, violence, and being bullied all contribute to mental illness. The media and gender influence add to the risk, School pressures, peers, and stress all add to your child being at a higher risk of mental health problems.
school shootings
We have an increased amount of shootings, again. Democrats always go for our guns. The 2nd amendment is staying. It’s not going anywhere. Our first amendment is staying as well. As much as Democrats would like to take our rights, in the end they can not. Our system is based on the constitution and like it or not, that’s the way it is. Instead of wasting energy, time, and money on trying to take people’s constitutional rights, which will never happen, work on other solutions. Democrats will never succeed in taking the 1st or 2nd amendment from the people.
When there are mass shootings, the 2nd amendment is the first thing Democrats blame. We have just had the 2nd worst mass shooting in our nations history and the instant the news about it came out, Dems turned it political. They couldn’t offer condolences. They couldn’t be kind to all those suffering. That’s not what Dems do. They instantly politicized the shooting. They do this with so much anger and hate. The victims families need lifted up. Stop thinking about how to exploit them.
mental health needs addressed
No one who commits such a heinous act is stable. In order to do such a terrible crime, you must be ill. Normal people do not commit murder unless it’s to defend oneself or others. Murders are the actions of criminals. Mass shootings are committed by someone mentally ill. It was not the gun. Instead of wasting time trying to change the constitution, work on mental health. Trump was right when he said that we need hospitals for these people. Sometimes the safety of society should come first. It’s not nice to say, but it is very true.
sometimes shooters are kids
Gender is a factor. Most violent crimes are committed by boys.
Aggressive behavior, These include aggressive, anti social, violent, and criminal behavior.
Obsession with weapons, death, or mass shootings. This can include guns, bombs, and explosives.
Dark personality and emotion regulation. Youth who are angry, can be aggressive and or violent. They sometimes are not able to control their anger. They get very angry quickly, often, and are unable to cool down.
4 dark personality traits that can include violence
Narcissism is a grandiose self view and lack of empathy. If a narcissist does not receive respect or recognition they can turn violent. Research shows a link between narcissism and mass shootings.
Psychopathy is people who are manipulative, deceitful, and callous. They have no regard for laws or norms. They show no remorse and commit violent crimes.
Machiavellianism is a mindset that ruthlessly wants power and personal gain. They will use violence and aggression or any means necessary to achieve it.
Sadists get pleasure from hurting innocent people.
environmental factors
easy access to guns. Guns give the shooter a distance between himself and the victims, this makes killing easier.
Social exclusion or isolation. Bullying and ostracized by their peers. This causes resentment to certain individuals or groups. It is linked to mass shootings.
Family and neighborhood. Divorce, child abuse, domestic violence, welfare, having an unemployed mother or very young mother. Violent neighborhoods or witnessing violence can lead to violent behavior. Low parental involvement can also be a factor.
Stressful events can lead to anger and violence.
kids were asked to rate why school shootings occur
When you ask kids their reasons for a school shootings, the number one reason is revenge. They were bullied or picked on and want to get back at those who hurt them. These kids don’t value life. They have been abused. These kids have mental problems. They have easy access to guns. These kids do not get along with their parents and may have witnessed domestic violence. They use alcohol or drugs and don’t have any close friends. Violence is a way of life. Kids possibly encouraged them to do it. They feel teachers don’t care. They are bored.
who might become a shooter
There is no one reason someone becomes a school shooter. It could be numerous factors led this person to this terrible decision. A majority of these shooting are by teenagers or young adults. They attended the school or is a former student. They are struggling horribly and have led a difficult life. It doesn’t matter if they have a diagnosis or not, they are mentally ill. They are afraid to ask for help or when they have their cries were not heard. Humiliation, anger, and blame can all play a roll. This leads to homicidal thoughts and thoughts of revenge. Easy access to gun plays a role. A lot of times, it’s not until after something tragic that people realize there were signs.
