A Child With A Mental Condition, What Helps?

By Author: spurtz seo
Total Articles: 45
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I have heard that in the wake of the horrors at Sandy Hook Elementary in Conneticut, some people have taken to “aspie bashing”. It is a little unclear to me what that is exactly, but I assume it is some misguided attempt at retribution whereby everyone that has aspergers syndrome or high functioning autism must take the blame for a young man’s crime because of a shared diagnosis. I think that any rational person realizes the stupidity of this, on many levels, so I am not going to dwell on it, except to point out that when it comes to ANY mental condition, it is not the name of the disorder that is relevant in determining whether that mental condition has become a mental illness that will cause harm to oneself or others. What IS relevant to the mental condition is what HELP the person is receiving. A person struggling with any mental condition from depression to schizophrenia needs help, early and often. I am so glad to hear people saying this and asking that we as a nation examine mental health offerings for people in the throws of mental illness. And for kids that are not yet mentally ill but are struggling with ...
... a mental condition, here is the help I wish they could receive so that they become happy, well adjusted adults that can manage their condition, whatever it is:
1) Proactive parents. We could have the most qualified mental health specialists at every corner pharmacy offering free counseling, tutoring, and appropriate medications and it would do no good without parents bringing kids to see them. Of course there are people that do not struggle with a mental condition until they reach adulthood, but for many, these conditions begin in childhood or adolescence, go undiagnosed, and worsen as a consequence. If a child or teen has a 103 degree fever or a busted knee, no one thinks twice about bringing him to the doctor, but when it comes to whether or not he is “normal”, no parent wants to face it. We want our children to be normal but extraordinary, unique but fit into the group, excel but be part of a team. Mostly, we just don’t want any trouble from them. They are a lot of work when everything functions the way it is supposed to, forget about when something is “wrong”. That is overwhelming and embarrassing. We don’t want to deal with it, and above all, we “don’t want anyone to know”. These emotions are understandable, but harmful. Kids do not outgrow things mentally, they grow into them mentally. This makes a simple problem a complicated problem without help.