7 Signs Intervention is Needed

As a parent or caregiver, it can be difficult to discern when a child may need some outside intervention or support and when they are just facing some normal bumps in the road of childhood development. No list is perfect and every child is different, but here are a few behaviors where you may want to pay closer attention and consult with a doctor or therapist.

  1. Extreme decrease in social interaction: If your child was social and is no longer interested in maintaining any friendships, it could be due to a fight or something more serious.
  2.  Insomnia: is your child just off his or her schedule for a night or two, or is he or she consistently up late worrying?
  3. Self-harm: If a child is scratching, pinching or hurting themself in any way, even if it doesn't seem severe, it is a sign that there are emotions that they need to process.
  4. Hopelessness: If your child is saying things like "I wish I wasn't here" or it seems like nothing is making them happy anymore, pay close attention.
  5. Lack of interest: Children's interests change, but if a child is no longer interested in any of the activities that recently made them happy (sports, hobbies at home, reading, etc.), this can be a sign of depression.
  6. Crippling anxiety: All children get nervous about things, but if a child is regularly anxious to the point where it keeps him or her from engaging in daily activities, this is cause for concern.
  7. Violent actions: This seems obvious, but if a child is being consistently aggressive physically or verbally, this is a call for help.

Find additional behaviors that may be cause for concern here and here

It's important to recognize that children do not always have the emotional vocabulary or awareness to tell you if they are suffering interiorly—whether that be from anxiety, depression, or some sort of trauma. Keeping an open eye for these types of red flags can assist you as a caregiver in knowing when to seek out professional advice or support so the child can thrive.

 

 


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