LiveWellTalk - Overcoming Mental Health Challenges

Not all scars are visible. A child who once laughed freely now startles at loud noises, clings to familiar faces, or refuses to sleep alone. A past event – something frightening – has taken root in their mind, replaying when they least expect it. This is what PTSD can look like in children. It’s not just fear; it’s a shift in how they see the world and their place in it. In this piece, I’ll walk you through how PTSD manifests in young minds, how to spot the signs, and, most importantly, how we can help them heal. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Children PTSD is a clinical trauma- and stressor-related disorder, previously classified as an anxiety disorder, characterized by significant behavioral, cognitive, social, physical, and emotional symptoms that can last for more than a month after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Such events may involve sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence, car accidents, or natural disasters. In children and adolescents, the r...

Child Anxiety Is your child extremely shy? Does he/she fear normal activities like joining school events, facing his/her classmates and so forth? Is he/she constantly worried or fearful over things that you have already explained clearly to him/her? These may be early symptoms of anxiety problems in your child. Your child must be diagnosed early to determine whether he/she needs child anxiety treatment. In today’s fast life, everybody undergoes a certain degree of stress and anxiety. The fast shifting facades of lifestyle, relationship, workplace or the need to be ahead in the rat race have given rise to the mental stress and anxiety in mostly all lives. It is sad but true that anxiety does not require any age, it is now commonly seen in people of all age groups and even children. In most cases, adults fail to recognize the symptoms of anxiety among children and the poor child has to deal with it without any helpful treatment. Research has shown that today, almost one out of ten c...

Panic Attacks in Children Panic attacks in children can look like a serious medical emergency and can be very frightening for the parents to see a panic attack in their child. Your child may suddenly "out of the blue" become very breathless, shaky, their heart start racing and they may feel like fainting. They may experience tingling in their hands, around the mouth or stomach and may start getting spasms in their muscles due to hyperventilation. Panic disorder is characterized by recurring panic attacks. There are three basic forms in which panic attacks can occur in children. First off, there is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) . This form of anxiety usually is the result of social events, such as, holidays, birthdays, any kind of reunions or celebrations with friends or family. Therapy and helping the child find things that relax him are the best ways to deal with GAD. Secondly, there is Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) which has to do with the child not being abl...

Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children It is “normal” for children to experience fear, worry and anxiety from time-to-time, especially if they are “dealing with a lot” (i.e. divorce, remarriage, health condition, new school or location, a new sibling, a learning disability, etc.). In fact, stress can trigger or worsen anxiety symptoms. Many times the anxiety subsides once time has elapsed and nothing “horrible” has occurred, but in some cases, the anxiety persists and never “lets up.” When the anxiety interferes with a child’s ability to be a “normal” child and perform day-to-day activities, then it is time to seek professional help. No child deserves to be in constant emotional agony. Although Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) typically occurs during adolescence (i.e. childhood, teenage years and young adulthood), it can also arise later in life. GAD in children can actually appear as young as six years old, and normally is found in children that are between the ages of six a...

Fight Depression without Meds Depression is a common but serious mood disorder. It can cause debilitating sadness and the loss of pleasure in things that once used to bring you joy. Depression is a disorder that is diagnosed by a physician and often treated with medication. However, many people experience relief from depression with natural remedies as well. In this article, I will discuss  10 natural ways to fight Depression without meds . Can You Fight Depression without Meds Yes, you can. Meds might be the easiest way to treat depression but many a time it can be fixed without them. The human body is an amazing machine. It is capable of adapting to the circumstances. When things are going well, your body will secrete different hormones; when things aren't going well, your body will adapt by secreting different types of hormones. The trick is to find the right combination of situations, environment, and actions that will lead to the right secretions. Find it and you can fight dep...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome ( IBS ) is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, bloating, gas, constipation, and/or diarrhea. An IBS attack is a period during which the symptoms of IBS are particularly severe. This article aims to shed light on what IBS attacks are, their potential triggers, symptoms, and effective management techniques to help those dealing with this condition lead a more comfortable life. What is an IBS attack? An IBS attack is a sudden onset of the symptoms that are associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Symptoms of an IBS attack can vary from person to person. However, common symptoms include abdominal pain and cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and/or constipation. IBS Attacks can vary in severity, but they typically last for several hours or days. IBS attacks can be unpredictable and can occur at any time, without warning. An IBS attack can be triggered by a variety of factors, including stress, eating certain foods, hormonal ...