Signs of an Emotional Problem in a Child

Children develop emotional problems for a number of reasons. These reasons may include abuse in the home, a traumatic experience or mental illness. Emotional problems may manifest themselves in infancy, childhood or adolescence. As children grow, they may find methods of handling emotions in healthy way on their own or may require some professional intervention.

  1. Withdrawal

    • Some children may be naturally shy and slower to make new friends. This is not necessarily an indicator of an emotional problem. However, if a child is withdrawn to the point where she has little or no interaction with those around her, it may indicate a problem. This is especially so for a child who normally interacts well with others and becomes suddenly withdrawn. This symptom may indicate a depressive disorder or may be a sign of abuse or trauma. Psychotherapy is a common remedy for these types of problems.

    Mood Swings

    • Everyone has good and bad days and moods. However, a child who goes from happy to sad to angry in a matter of minutes may have emotional problems. Small incidents, such as a spilled drink or an upset toy may elicit a major emotional outburst from the child. Again, this could indicate problems at home. This type of behavior is also consistent with certain mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, where a person is prone to sharp emotional ups and downs. Depending on the severity, children may be treated with psychotherapy and mood stabilizers.

    Anti-Social Behavior

    • It is common for children to get into fights or tell a white lie from time to time. A child who constantly picks fights, bullies, lies and cheats may have serious emotional or mental problems. He may be acting out to get attention from parents, teachers and classmates. These symptoms may also indicate a disorder such as Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Conduct Disorder. If the condition is caught early, children can often learn methods to help them control their actions, helping them become productive adults.

    Extreme Anxiety

    • Some children become overly anxious in new settings or when they have to leave their parents. This type of emotion is much more extreme than occasional butterflies in the stomach or slight nervousness. Symptoms such as repeating the same action over and over, nausea or headache brought on by anxiety may be indicators of emotional problems. These problems may range from separation anxiety to phobias or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Children may learn a variety of coping skills through psychotherapy and may be prescribed an anti-anxiety medication.

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