Children are increasingly being prescribed pharmaceutical medication to help them deal with emotional and behavioral problems as well as mood symptoms.
What Types of Emotional, Behavioral and Mood Symptoms Are Commonly Seen in Our Kids?
- Depression: May be exhibited as anger with mood swings
- Unable to adapt to stressful situations
- Excessive rigidity
- Excessive anxiety, panic
- Obsessive compulsive behaviors: Persistent thoughts, impulses, behaviors
- Rage
- Excessive anger
- Moodiness
- Negativism
- Defiance
- Non-compliance
- Disobedient
- Hostile behavior
- Oppositional behavior
- Intense fear
- Nightmares
- Difficulty falling asleep
Common Diagnoses of Mood, Emotional and Behavioral Problems
Here are some of the more common diagnoses:
- PANS/PANDAS
- OCD
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- ADD/ADHD
- Aggressiveness
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Cyclothymic disorder
- Depression
- Dysthymia
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Schizophrenia
What Your Doctor May Tell You About Mood, Emotional and Behavioral Problems
Your doctor will most likely suggest therapy and counseling at school and/or private therapy and counseling depending on the severity of the situation. She might also suggest removing any triggers that might be causing behavioral issues in your child or, if there are marital problems between you and your spouse, to seek counseling to improve family relations and circumstances. Many doctors may also recommend psychoactive pharmaceutical medications.
Another Way of Thinking about Mood, Emotional and Behavioral Problems
There are many stressors in a child’s life today, and they could be physical, emotional, educational, environmental, or biological. It is most likely a perfect storm of these varied stressors that ultimately contribute to a child’s mood and behavioral symptoms. Many times doctors offer cognitive or psychiatric therapy or even pharmaceutical solutions without first looking to see what might be the root cause, which is often physiological, of the symptoms.
For example, the relationship between food and mood/behaviors is often overlooked. Similarly, inadequate sleep can impact mood and behavior. Researchers are beginning to uncover the important role that immune dysregulation and gastrointestinal disorders may play in the role of mood disorders such as biopolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia and others.
Like autism, mood disorders have long been understood as “brain-based,” often genetically-determined disorders best managed by psychiatrists. In reality, these mental health diagnoses are really just symptoms of larger systemic medical problems, usually involving some element of gut dysbiosis, immune dysregulation, or mitochondrial dysfunction. Many of these biological problems stem from certain environmental exposures.
While psychiatrists may certainly be helpful in managing these disorders, they are not necessarily trained to look for the root cause of their patient’s medical issues. What’s more, many of the pharmaceuticals prescribed to manage these conditions may actually make the conditions worse in the long run.
A physician or healthcare provider trained in integrative or functional medicine may be able to find underlying medical issues and suggest medical protocols that will help heal these underlying systemic problems.
Mood, Emotional and Behavioral Problems Healing Checklist
Before resorting to medications or behavior modification therapies, consider the following:
Learn more about Obstructive Sleep Apnea:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) could be contributing to anxiety, especially if your child snores or is a mouth breather.
Have primitive reflexes checked:
People with anxiety often have retained reflexes, especially the Moro reflex, which leads to being in a state of constant fight or flight.
- Bullying
- Safety
- Overcrowding
- Too much computer usage
- Not enough movement/exercise/outdoor sports activity
- Inappropriate curriculum
- Too much noise
- Trauma
- Fears
- Family issues
- Unrealistic expectations
- Low self-esteem
- Lack of successes
- Too much failure
- Other experiences that may be impacting your child’s emotional well-being
Still Looking for Answers?
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Sources & References
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Resources
Books
Brogan, Kelly. A Mind of Your Own. The Truth About Depression and How Women Can Heal Their Bodies to Reclaim Their Lives. New York, Harper, 2016.
Campbell-McBride, Natasha. Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Autism, Dyspraxia, A.D.D., Dyslexia, A.D.H.D., Depression, Schizophrenia. 2010.
Doman, Glenn. What To Do About Your Brain-Injured Child, or Your Brain-Damaged, Mentally Retarded, Mentally Deficient, Cerebral-Palsied, Emotionally Disturbed, Spastic, Flaccid, Rigid, Epileptic, Autistic, Athetoid, Hyperactive, Down’s Child. Garden City, New York. Doubleday; 1990.
Guyol, G. Who’s Crazy Here?: Steps for Recovery Without Drugs for ADD/ADHD, Addiction & Eating Disorders, Anxiety & PTSD, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Autism. 1st U.S. ed. Stonington, CT: Ajoite Pub.; 2010.
Hyman, Mark. The UltraMind Solution: Fix Your Broken Brain by Healing Your Body First: The Simple Way to Defeat Depression, Overcome Anxiety and Sharpen Your Mind. 1st Scribner hardcover ed. New York: Scribner; 2008.
