Psychological problems in school children

Like adults, school goers also suffer from various psychological problems. These problems can be severe or minor; can be ephemeral or long-lasting. Psychological difficulties have a negative impact on school children, regardless of their types and severity. Poor academic performance, poor peer and teacher relationships, attention difficulty, loss of interest in study or other activities, low motivation are some common consequences of these difficulties. If not addressed, these problems can turn into serious health hazards.

Here are some psychological disorders common among school-going children.

• Anxiety disorders: School goers can experience different types of anxiety disorders, such as panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder, among others. Some common symptoms of these disorders include gripping fear and unnecessary uneasiness, which lasts for quite some time.
• Bipolar disorder and depression: Surprisingly, the rate of depression among school-going children is quite high. It has been found that kids having close relatives with this disorder tend to fall prey to it. This problem is characterized by prolonged sadness without any reason, low self-esteem, disinterest in any activities, and so on. A long period of depression can result in bipolar disorder in late childhood. Studies revealed that depression and bipolar disorder are a leading cause of suicide attempts.
• Autism: Being a pervasive disorder, autism is marked by poor social interaction skills, communication difficulties, and restricted as well as repetitive behavior.
• Conduct disorders: Conduct disorders are considered a psychological problem wherein kids face difficulties behaving in the way they should. Some conduct disorders can be like bullying friends, causing physical harm to people or animals, lying, stealing, skipping classes, running away from home, and so on.
• Learning disorders: These disorders are characterized by children’s difficulty in learning like their peers. Some of learning disorders include dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, Central Auditory Process Disorder (CAPD), nonverbal learning disorders, visual processing disorder, dysphasia, and so on.
• Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: This disorder is marked by children’s difficulty in paying attention in class, concentrating on homework, standing in a line, awaiting their turn to speak/act.
• Eating disorders: In today’s world, eating disorders are quite prevalent among kids. Some of these disorders are bulimia and anorexia nervosa. Some symptoms of these disorders include the feeling of being fat despite maintaining a proper body weight, citing various excuses for skipping meals, and so on.

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