5 Traits That Are More Common In Kids Than You Think

As a parent, you need to be prepared for the changes that your child may face growing up. These can be personality traits or personal issues. You might think that mental health issues in children are rare but you’d be surprised as the latest statistics are both shocking and alarming. Similarly, certain mental conditions are also more common than you might imagine. While it’s important to be aware that not all these traits are a problem that needs to be ‘cured’ parents should be aware of them. You need to be able to recognize the signs and know how to address it the correct way.

Autism

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Autism is a condition that is found in about 62 in 10,000 people according to one of the latest studies. This is a far cry from the original estimate which was about 1 in 100,000. Does this mean that there are more people with ASD than before? On the contrary, it’s far more likely that we just gained a better understanding of the condition and as such we are able to recognize it far more easily. That means that more people get the diagnosis that they need.

Autism used to be diagnosed based on the triad of impairments however in recent years this has been heavily criticized. This is mainly due to the fact that it assumes someone with ASD will not be sociable. A more accurate description would be that people with traits of ASD tend to only socialize on their own terms. In other words, they will not always seek out certain social situations and may not handle them as effectively. ASD is more common in boys but can impact girls too.

If you think your child does have ASD you might notice traits such as finding change difficult and not liking physical contact. It’s also possible that a child with ASD will struggle in school for a variety of reasons. Be aware that a diagnosis is only necessary if a child is struggling to cope. If they can function independently a label may not be necessary.

Depression

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Researchers are not sure why but depression is becoming more common in children and teenagers. Indeed, children as young as eight are now being diagnosed with depression. This could be due to the high level of pressure that kids and teens are under from an early age. It’s important to reduce pressure in your child’s life if you can and let them enjoy their childhood. They need to be given time to play and relax even between working on their school career. Unfortunately, these days, kids are working towards college as soon as they hit middle school and never stop.

Of course, depression can be caused by a wide range of issues and is not exclusively about stress or pressure. Bullying, abuse, trauma and various other issues can cause depression. Depression may also be a psychological condition that manifests with no foreseeable cause and there is even evidence that it could be hereditary.

Signs of depression may include not wanting to get out of bed and sleeping throughout the entire day. A sad mood that lasts for an extended period or recurs usually leads to a diagnosis. You can explore teen depression treatment which comes in the form of both medication and therapy. Both can be highly effective.

Anxiety

Anxiety does often lead to issues with socializing and generally just enjoying life. Someone with anxiety may struggle to go to parties, go to school or even go outside. It can be a crippling condition and one of the issues is that if it’s not handled or noted, it can quickly grow out of control. Anxiety can be caused by PTSD and a range of other social issues that again, include bullying. Again, therapy can provide benefits for depression but it’s important not to ignore it or even embrace it. Anxiety does need to be tackled head-on. If a child is not able to function, then they will need support to deal with their condition.

The benefits of therapy or medication for anxiety is debated by researchers and doctors alike. Therapy tends to involve exploring the route of anxiety and approaching it from a logical point of view. You may be able to do this with your child without a therapist and help them work through their anxiety. While teenagers will not typically grow out of their anxiety they may be able to develop coping mechanisms with help so that it does not haunt their lives.

Self Harm

One study has revealed that seven in ten girls will self-harm at some point through their teenage years. It’s important to be aware that while self harm can be linked to depression this is not always the case. It can be triggered by depressive thoughts but quickly grow out of control. That’s because self-harm can be addictive. When injuring your body, it releases endorphins which are a lot like a natural drug. They provide relief and even comfort which is always going to be a recipe for addiction.

A common misconception is that self-harm marks will always be found on the arms and particularly the wrists. This is not the case and many girls will injure their thighs, stomach or anywhere else that they do not think will be noticed. Self-harm can be a plea for help or attention but it can also be a secret pain which can actually be more dangerous.

Addiction

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Lastly, it’s worth thinking about addiction. The good news is that issues with drugs aren’t as prevalent in the teenage population as you might assume. There are however other addictions. By 2022, gaming addiction will be a recognized medical diagnosis and this is something parents should be aware of. Loot boxes are now considered to be similar to gambling and MMORPG games have been noted to be addictive as cocaine. It is therefore worth considering limiting the amount of time children spend on games consoles and ultimately avoiding this issue.

We hope this helps you understand some of the traits parents should be aware of with their kids.