Causes of neuroses in children consultation on the topic

Good day, dear parents. Today we will talk about what neurosis is in children and the symptoms of this condition. Neurosis is a functional mental disorder of a reversible nature. It is caused by prolonged experiences, which are accompanied by mood swings, feelings of anxiety, autonomic disorders, and increased fatigue. In the modern world, preschool children often suffer from neuroses. It is important that parents notice this in time and do everything to help their baby.

Variety of neuroses

Today, preschool children can be diagnosed with one of several types of neurotic conditions. They differ in the cause of their occurrence, as well as in the manifestations of characteristic symptoms.

1. Neurasthenia. Characteristic symptoms of depression. If we consider a child under six years old, then such a child will have a need for prolonged sleep, will lack healthy sleep, interest in toys, and joy from gifts.
2. Hysteria. Characteristic is egocentrism and mood swings. Preschoolers experience convulsive delays in the breathing process, accompanied by emotional swings and theatricality. There are often cases when hysteria is manifested by complaints of pain in the head or stomach (somatic illness).
3. Obsessive state. Characterized by the emergence of fear, for no apparent reason. So a toddler of preschool age may be afraid of insects. Manifestations of this condition will be monotonous movements that are repeated, for example, constant scratching of the head or stamping. This also includes nervous tics and stuttering.
4. Enuresis. Most often, such a manifestation occurs as a result of some kind of trauma, both physical and psychological.
5. Encopresis of a neurotic nature. Represents involuntary defecation. More common in boys. The main reason is a very strict upbringing and frequent conflicts in the family. As a rule, this condition is accompanied by irritability, frequent crying and enuresis.
6. Eating neurosis. The child is unable to eat normally, and a gag reflex occurs after eating. Most often, force feeding leads to this condition. Parents force the baby to eat what he does not want. First, there is an aversion to a specific dish, then to the very process of eating.
7. A dream of a neurotic nature. This condition is characterized by the presence of sleepwalking; the baby can talk in his sleep and often wakes up.

Depressive neurosis in children

Children in adolescence are more prone to them, especially during puberty. With such neurosis, the child wants to be alone and withdraws from others. He is often in a depressed mood with tearfulness, and his self-esteem drops.

Typically, physical activity decreases, sleep is disturbed, and appetite worsens. Speech becomes quiet and meager, and sadness constantly appears on the face.

This condition requires special attention, as it can lead to serious consequences.

Causes

A difficult situation in the family, frequent scandals can cause the development of neurosis in a child.
The factors that most often provoke a neurotic state are problems in the family, in particular, the nature of the relationship between the baby and his parents.

When considering the causes of neuroses in children, three main groups should be distinguished.

1. Social. Predisposing factors include:

• problematic family relationships;
• the authority of one of the parents (tyrant);
• definition of a child as an individual.

1. Biological. These include:

• how the baby developed in utero, in particular hypoxia;
• critical age of the baby (up to three years);
• mental or physical overload;
• chronic lack of sleep;
• poor nutrition;
• hereditary predisposition to neuroses;
• past illness, in particular of an infectious nature.

1. Psychological. Relates:

• negative psychological impact on the child’s psyche;
• frequent stress;
• psychotrauma. A neurosis that arises for this reason can develop into a phobia.

It is also necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of each child’s body and his psychological state. The fact is that any factor for one toddler can cause the development of neurosis, while for another it will remain invisible.

The most common reasons include:

• parental divorce;
• improper upbringing;
• over-protectiveness;
• moving to a new place;
• first visit to kindergarten;
• family problems of a domestic nature;
• difficult parental relationships.

The disease can occur in different ways and be accompanied by different manifestations and have different durations. This will depend on upbringing, temperamental characteristics, age of the baby, his gender, and type of constitution.

The most susceptible children are:

• with increased sensitivity;
• emotional kids;
• children from disadvantaged families;
• kids who get sick often have weak immunity;
• toddlers who do not know how to defend themselves;
• guys with leadership abilities;
• children with increased anxiety and strong impressionability;
• guys with unstable psyches.

Risk group for childhood neurosis

After much research, experts came to the conclusion that the following categories of children are most susceptible to developing the disease:

1. Ages 2-5 and 7 years
   . Doctors are confident that this particular period of child development is the beginning of the onset of neurosis. They base such conclusions on the fact that the little personality has not yet formed, and its consciousness has not absorbed any significant life experience. The voiced pathological process begins with neurotic reactions, which later, as they grow older, develop into a persistent neurotic state.
2. Child with an “I-position”
   . Some children cannot be adjusted in terms of education by parents and teachers. These born leaders actively express their opinions about everything that happens around them. They perceive any restriction of their desires with violent protest, after which they are punished by their parents. After a decisive rebuff from adults, a child with an “I-position” may develop neurosis.
3. Somatically weakened children
   . Adults literally blow away specks of dust from such little “martyrs.” By protecting their sick child from almost everything around him, parents ultimately do him a so-called “disservice.” The child begins to feel completely unadapted to society, which subsequently leads to the formation of neurosis.
4. Emotionally unstable children
   . In this case, they will overreact to any everyday trouble or remark from someone. A child with an unstable nervous system tries to reach out to his parents if he does not receive enough attention and affection from them. By ignoring such gestures of despair, he becomes confident that he is not loved or appreciated. The result is the development of all kinds of phobias and fears of various types.
5. Children in an SOS situation
   . Any stress can trigger the development of this pathology. Cruel treatment by parents, bullying in the garden or school, violence of any kind from strangers, the death of a loved one or a beloved animal - all this can cause neurosis in a child. In some cases, it is enough for him to simply be a witness to some tragic event in order to receive serious emotional trauma.
6. Pupils of special institutions
   . A child from an asocial family or an orphan ends up in a boarding school or orphanage. Already initially, this is a stressful situation for him, because he is automatically deprived of the love and care of his parents. The children's staff of such institutions is not always positioned as a friendly and cohesive team. As a result, the child develops the described pathology, which teachers in such institutions do not immediately notice.

Symptoms

Regular crying for no apparent reason is the first alarm bell

The following signs may indicate that your baby has developed neurosis:

• increased sensitivity in stressful situations;
• fixation on a specific conflict;
• crying for no reason;
• shallow sleep, drowsiness in the morning;
• strong touchiness, vulnerability;
• decreased intellectual abilities;
• intolerance to bright light and loud sounds;
• tachycardia;
• increased sweating;
• changes in blood pressure;
• loss of appetite;
• severe headaches, possibly dizziness;
• fast fatiguability;
• nervous cough;
• fecal or urinary incontinence;
• spasmodic pain in the stomach or heart;
• convulsions;
• nervous tics;
• depressed mood;
• fears;
• hysterics.

Diagnostics

Drawing is one of the methods for diagnosing the psychological state of a child.

In order to make sure that obsessive neuroses occur in children, you need to go to an appointment with a neurologist or pediatrician, and sometimes with a psychologist. To diagnose neurosis you will need the following:

• communication with the baby’s parents, clarifying the situation in the family, relationships between family members, the baby’s relationships with peers and relatives;
• examination of people directly involved in the process of raising a toddler, identifying possible mistakes;
• communication with the toddler - carried out during the game, using established questions;
• monitoring the baby - the doctor monitors the baby’s behavior during play;
• drawing - the child is given the task of drawing something on paper, then a detailed analysis of the drawing is done.

After these stages of the study, the baby will be diagnosed, in particular, a specific type of neurosis will be identified. Based on the results, a treatment method will be developed.

Which doctor should I contact?

Which specialist will treat your baby directly depends on the reasons that caused the neurosis. In some cases, there is an integrated approach and observation by several specialists at once.

1. You will need a neurologist if there is a neurological disorder. Sedatives may be prescribed.
2. A child psychologist will help change the microclimate in the child’s family and select the right upbringing model.
3. A psychotherapist will help you cope with the obsessive state and, if necessary, conduct hypnosis.
4. An appointment with an endocrinologist, acupuncturist, massage therapist or reflexologist may be necessary.

Hypochondriacal neurosis in children

It manifests itself as fear for your body, for your life, for the life of your parents. All these fears for no particular reason. For example, strong worries about your health. Inappropriate attitude of the child towards his body. Fear of new diseases. Moreover, all this can be accompanied by depression. Most often occurs in children during adolescence.

This type of neurosis refers to mental disorders. The disease can develop against the background of any somatic pathologies and emerging negative thoughts. The causes of hypochondria may be:

• external – illness of loved ones, psycho-emotional trauma
• internal – suspiciousness, unstable emotional state, genetic predisposition to anxiety disorders.

Manifestations and symptoms of hypochondria:

• panic attacks or unpredictable anxiety;
• rapid heartbeat, sweating, body tremors, headache;
• insomnia and sleep disturbance;
• concentration decreases;
• irritability and depression appear;
• suspiciousness;
• the child behaves nervously;
• decreased appetite;
• strange unusual behavior;
• fear for your life.

If your child exhibits such signs, immediately go to a neurologist or psychotherapist. This cannot be done without qualified help.

And in order to prevent the development of hypochondriacal neurosis, experts recommend that parents treat their child adequately. Show care and attention, but do not indulge unnecessarily. Play a lot, communicate, talk. Teach your child to a healthy lifestyle from early childhood. Exercise regularly and go for walks in the fresh air.

Treatment

If a child is prescribed psychotherapy, it can be of three types:

• group;
• individual;
• family.

For preschool children, role-playing games, autogenic training and art therapy are the most relevant.

The participation of mom and dad in the therapy process is important.

To save your baby from neurosis, you will need:

• create a daily routine;
• observe the necessary regime;
• go for walks often;
• optimal physical activity;
• active social life;
• Lately, horseback riding and interacting with dolphins have become increasingly popular.

Drug therapy

Taking medications to a high degree is a secondary treatment necessary to relieve increased excitability and treat a particular symptom. In addition to medication and psychotherapy, physical therapy may be added.

1. An integrated approach is especially necessary for neurosis-like conditions. In such cases, dehydration and restorative therapy and nootropic drugs are prescribed. Infusions of medicinal herbs, for example, motherwort or valerian, are prescribed.
2. In the presence of asthenic symptoms, calcium supplements, vitamins, lipocerebrin, zamanikhi, tincture of Chinese lemongrass, Nootropil, Pantogam are prescribed.
3. If irritable weakness is present, Pavlov's mixture is prescribed, which is accompanied by taking motherwort or valerian tincture.
4. If neurotic stuttering is present, they may prescribe Pavlov’s mixture, periodic use of sedatives, electrophoresis, calcium bromide, and electrosleep.
5. Neurotic tics can be treated with Phenibut.
6. In the treatment of enuresis, medicinal herbs with a sedative effect are used. If there is a restless sleep, then half of Eunoctine is given before it in accordance with the age of the child.

Drug therapy

Drug therapy is of secondary importance in the treatment process. As a rule, it is carried out before psychotherapy. Appointed:

• general strengthening, tonic preparations (vitamins B, C, calcium preparations);
• nootropics (piracetam);
• drugs to reduce the amount of fluid in the body or individual organs (diuretics);
• tinctures of medicinal herbs (herbs that have a calming effect);
• tranquilizers - used only in case of excessive activity, disinhibition (chlordiazepoxide);
• physiotherapy (electrophoresis, electrosleep);
• It is possible to use small doses of antidepressants (imiprapine).

It should be remembered that only a doctor can prescribe the medications necessary to treat the disease.

Prevention

A healthy family environment largely protects the baby from the development of neuroses.

Parents should prematurely think about the need to create an optimal mental climate in the life of their child. In order to prevent the occurrence of neuroses, the following rules must be observed:

• follow your daily routine;
• properly allocate time for quiet and active games;
• do not overload the child, both physically and mentally;
• actively engage in hardening procedures, vitamin therapy, and daily exercises;
• avoid stressful situations, do not swear in front of the child;
• If any problems arise within the family, solve them in a timely manner; if necessary, contact a psychologist;
• if the need arises, use relaxation tools, for example, bathing in a bath with decoctions of soothing herbs.

Now you know what the treatment of neuroses in children is. It is very important not to be one of those parents who turn a blind eye to the psychological problems that arise in a child’s life. When the first questionable signs appear, you must immediately seek help from a specialist, do not delay, and do not wait until the situation worsens dramatically. Do not forget that psychological problems often lead to diseases, including decreased immunity.

Hysterical neurosis in children

This type of neurosis occurs more often in preschool children due to punishment or denial of what they want.

Symptoms and manifestations of hysterical neurosis:

• excessive whims
• tantrums
• imaginary suffocation
• falling to the floor screaming
• demonstrative behavior

And the reason most often lies on the surface. Parents, up to a certain point, indulged the increasing demands of their child. And at some point they got tired of it and introduced restrictions. They acted inconsistently, and the children do not understand such a sharp change in the logic of their parents. Hence the hysterics. Another example: parents say one thing, and grandparents say another. Again we encounter illogicality and inconsistency. The child does not perceive this and responds to this inadequately.

Another reason is the opposite - lack of attention to the child. The parents were tired after work, they “paid off” with a toy, but did not show proper participation. The child is considered unclaimed. The deficit of emotional attention accumulates and over time results in hysterical neurosis, which manifests itself in the form of demonstration. And for this the child is also scolded.