Support For Individuals, Couples, & Families

Children may fail to gain good academic knowledge due to many reasons, mainly

• Learning disabilities like difficulty in reading, writing or to do Maths.

• Attention, concentration or memory issues

• Lack of skills

• Intelligent Quotient

• Environmental factors

• Bullying

• Low self-esteem

• Attraction in other activities

• Attitude and Behaviour

• Psychological disturbances

• Exam fear

• Parents extreme pressure

Anxiety disorders cause extreme fear and worry and changes in a child’s behaviour, sleep, eating or mood. Different anxiety disorders can affect kids and teens. They are –

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD):- GAD causes kids to worry almost every day and over lots of things. Kids with GAD worry over things that most kids worry about, like homework, tests or making mistakes. Having GAD can make it hard for kids to focus in school. Because with GAD, there is almost always a worry on a kid’s mind. GAD makes it hard for kids to relax and have fun, eat well, or fall asleep at night.

Separation anxiety disorder (SAD):- It’s normal for babies and very young kids to feel anxious the first times they are apart from their parent. But soon they get used to being with a grandparent, babysitter or teacher. And they start to feel at home at day care or school. But when kids don’t outgrow the fear of being apart from a parent, it’s called separation anxiety disorder.

Social phobia (social anxiety disorder):- With social phobia, kids to feel too afraid of what others will think or say. They are always afraid they might do or say something embarrassing. They worry they might sound or look weird. They don’t like to be the centre of attention. They don’t want others to notice them, so they might avoid raising their hand in class. If they get called on in class, they may freeze or panic and can’t answer. With social phobia, a class presentation or a group activity with classmates can cause extreme fear.

Selective mutism (SM):- This extreme form of social phobia causes kids to be so afraid they don’t talk. Kids and teens with SM can talk. And they do talk at home or with their closest people. But they refuse to talk at all at school, with friends, or in other places where they have this fear.

Specific phobia:-. It’s normal for young kids to feel scared of the dark, monsters, big animals, or loud noises like thunder or fireworks. Most of the time, when kids feel afraid, adults can help them feel safe and calm again. But a phobia is a more intense, more extreme, and longer lasting fear of a specific thing. With a phobia, a child dreads the thing they fear and tries to avoid it. If they are near what they fear, they feel terrified and are hard to comfort.

Adults also suffer from same disorder.

Always a person has to do multiple tasks in his life to full fill his and his dependent’s needs. But when that person fails in this, he may suffer from many psychological and emotional disturbances. The performance capacity and longings mismatches, which leads to many problems like – low self esteem, depression, anxiety, ignorance, lack of confidence and useless/hopeless feelings.

Parental counselling is aims to provide the necessary knowledge, tools, guidance, and most especially support to parents. This way, they become more fully equipped to take care of their children. It starts when a couple plans for a child. It continues for long time. It covers child’s development, health and nutrition, education, career choice, adolescent period, behavioural issues, social life etc.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral disorder usually diagnosed during childhood. It is characterized by developmentally inappropriate symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity and significant impairment in multiple domains of functioning.

Inattention

• Poor attention to tasks
• Poor attention to detail
• Apparently not listening
• Poor self-organization
• Avoids tasks requiring sustained mental effort
• Easily distracted
• Does not finish tasks
• Loses homework, pencils etc.
• Seems forgetful but memory OK on testing

Hyperactivity

• Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
• Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected.
• Often runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very restless).
• Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly.
• Is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor”.
• Often talks excessively.

Over activity

• Fidgets, squirms
• Leaves seat in class, meals etc.
• Runs, climbs rather than walks
• Noisy, cannot play or work quietly
• Persistent over activity not moderated by social demands

Impulsivity

• Blurts out answers too soon
• Fails to wait turn
• Interrupts and intrudes on others’ activities
• Talks excessively without response to social constraint

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to any activity. It can affect a person’s thoughts, behaviour, motivation, feelings, and sense of well-being. It may feature sadness, difficulty in thinking and concentration, crying, eating disturbances and over or disturbed sleep, and express pseudo-somatic disorders. People experiencing depression may have feelings of dejection, hopelessness and, sometimes, suicidal thoughts. It can either be short term or long term. Depressed mood is a symptom of some disorders such as major depressive disorder.  

Addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease defined by a physical and psychological dependence on drugs, alcohol or behaviour. An addiction heavily impacts the way a person thinks, feels and acts. Many individuals with addictive disorders are aware of their problem, but have difficulty stopping on their own. When a person consumes a substance repeatedly over time, they begin building a tolerance. A tolerance occurs when you need to use larger amounts of drugs or alcohol to achieve the same effects as when you started. No one ever plans to become addicted. There are countless reasons why someone would try a substance or behaviour. Some are driven by curiosity and peer pressure, while others are looking for a way to relieve stress. Children who grow up in environments where drugs and alcohol are present have a greater risk of developing a substance abuse disorder down the road.

It’s normal to feel low when experiencing health issues or going through changes in your life. This can affect your relationship with yourself as well as your relationships with friends, family and colleagues. At the same time all family members went through trauma/shock. How they should manage them self as well as patient is important. This may include reminding them about medication, driving them to appointments, cooking their meals or help bathing. The emotional and practical support needed can vary widely. 

• Talk to them about how they’re feeling

• Reassure them that you’re there

• Encourage them to talk to others about their feelings and worries

• Encourage and support your loved one to be as independent as possible

• Reinforce the achievements they’ve made, however small.

• Talking to healthcare professionals

• Reminding them to take medication

• Help with washing and dressing

• Helping with chores and paying bills

• Attending appointments with them

• Cooking healthy meals

While you’re supporting your loved one, make sure that you also look after your own emotional and physical health. Your life may have changed too and you may have to make your own adjustments.

• Asking others to help with caring responsibilities, such as family members and friends

• Finding time for yourself to relax, taking regular respite breaks

• Getting paid care workers to support you

• Eating healthily, staying active and trying to get enough sleep

• Meet friends and discuss other than this issue