Signs Of Children Struggling With Adjustments

LOOK FOR THE SIGNS

Signs Of Children Struggling With Adjustments

and/or suicidal. What signs should I be looking for?” What can I do to help her?” One of the best things that a parent can do to help their child in a situation like this is to sit down with them and acknowledge that you understand just how difficult the change is. Many parents often think it is better to let things work themselves out on their own. However, that is where the danger starts.

Here are the following warning signs: 1. Is she isolating? 2. Is she refusing to talk to others? 3. Is she is giving prized possessions away or throwing them out? 4. Does she experience bouts of crying? 5. Does she become easily angered? 6. Does she fight with others all of the time? 7. Has she accidentally or intentionally damaged property? 8. Do you suspect there might be substance abuse?

During my Radio show, I often receive many questions from concerned parents. In this article, I will be exploring warning signs, safety concerns, and ways to identify if your child is struggling.

Please find below the following question:

“Dear Insight Into Healing : We just moved to a new state, and now my ten-year old daughter is having difficulty maintaining peer relationships. It seems that she defines herself by how many friends she has, but she is having difficulty making any in her new school. I know this is a crucial time in my daughter’s life and I am concerned that she might be depressed

Always remember safety first, if you have any safety concerns for your daughter, take her to the emergency room as soon as possible. If she is exhibiting any of these behaviors, it is imperative to have her evaluated. Other areas to explore are: How does the family as a whole deal with stress? How do you problem solve? Work with your child to build up your child’s self-esteem and reinforce what there is to look forward to in the coming months. Let her know how much she means to you and as a team you will work together.

Then my clinical recommendation would be to create a safety contract with your child. Again, opening up a dialogue with her is an important place to start. Having a safety contract is essential. A safety contract will allow you to have a clearer picture of what your child is experiencing and will provide precautionary measures. A safety contract is an agreement between you and your child that he/she will not hurt themselves. If they feel triggered they

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LOOK FOR THE SIGNS

will agree to notify you, a professional, or a family member before acting on it. This does not mean she will be deterred from hurting herself, but is a way of assessing where she is emotionally an a means of explaining to her how serious suicidal ideation can be.

your daughter’s peers? What is your daughter seeking from these friendships? Is she looking for a sense of stability and the feeling that she belongs? The major concern in this is that maybe she is not equipped to evaluate whether or not this peer would be the right kind of person with whom to hang out with. As a ten year-old, she is just beginning to form her identity and must learn how to select friends who hold the same values as her family does. Therefore, she needs an adults guidance to learn how to pick peers who are not going to compromise her principles in any way. It is important that she seek out others that hold the same interests as hers. For instance, does she like ballet, drawing, or baking. These are foundation builders and tools for her to learn about those that surround her. Ask her what activities she enjoys and finding peers who enjoy the same things.

In this contract, have your child answer the following questions: 1. What makes you sad? 2. What makes you angry? 3. Do you ever feel helpless? If so, why? 4. How are you doing in school? 5. What activities do you enjoy? 6. What activities do you hate?

Once you have the answers, you will need to move on to more specific questions, such as, “How will I know when you are really upset? What would it look like to me? How will I know that it is more than just having a bad day?”

Recognizing that moving is one of life’s biggest events is a good place to open up the dialogue concerning her peers. Let your daughter know that it is an adjustment for not only her, but the whole family. Therefore, you are all in this together. Yes, you are leaving the familiarity of your previous home, school, and neighborhood and must adapt to everything new. I would begin to explore who are

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