【美猴育儿经】儿童心理健康问题及预防措施心理问题对于儿童有很大的危害

各年龄阶段的人都有可能患心理疾病，其中就包括儿童和青少年。儿童与青少年时期的心理疾病若未能痊愈，则会延至成年时期并带来更多棘手的心理缺陷与伤害。

Mental disorder is no respecter of age, afflicting children and teens, adults and the elderly. Unresolved mental disorders in children and teens can filter into adulthood, creating more intractable disabilities and impairment.

成年时期未治愈的心理疾病在老年时期也会愈发严重。因此，及时发现并医治可将心理伤害最大程度地降低。

Unresolved adult mental disorders may worsen in the senior years. Hence prompt recognition and intervention can minimise heartache down the road.

心理问题会使得0-10岁的儿童情绪低落、学习困难、产生社交障碍等。对于他们的父母而言，解决问题的关键是及早发现问题并寻求专业帮助。

Psychological conditions affect 1 in 10 children and can lead to emotional distress, academic problems and difficulties in socialising. For parents, the key to handling psychological disorders in children and teenagers is to recognise the problem early and seek professional help.

自闭症系列障碍

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

自闭症兼具自闭症本身与阿斯伯格综合症的症状，被认为是一种脑失调现象。它的特点为社交障碍、交谈困难与限制性重复性的行为。该病无法在出生时检测出，其征兆与症状通常在1-2岁开始显现。虽然儿童无法完全摆脱自闭症，但是在成长与治疗过程中，病情或可减轻。

Autism encompasses the previous diagnoses of autism and Asperger’s syndrome and is regarded as a brain disorder. It is characterised by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted and repetitive behaviour. Its signs and symptoms usually start to appear between one to two years of age and cannot be diagnosed at birth. Though children do not “outgrow” the illness the disabilities may lessen as the child develops and receives intervention.

征兆与症状

Signs and Symptoms

语言障碍

Difficulty with verbalisation

非语言交流困难

Difficulty with non-verbal communication

玩玩具或其他物品时举止异常

Unusual ways of playing with toys and other objects

理解、形成及维持关系困难

Difficulty with understanding, forming and sustaining relationships

注意缺陷多动障碍

ADHD

它的特点在于注意力不集中、多动症与抑制冲动困难。ADHD在儿童成长初期便可见，12岁左右表现为成长状况达不到与年龄相适应的程度。ADHD可造成日常主要活动的障碍，而2/3患病儿童的病症均延至成年阶段。

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by inattention, hyperactivity and difficulties controlling impulses. Seen in early childhood development, ADHD can be present by the age of 12 and the child may not be able to perform at the developmentally appropriate level. ADHD can cause impairment of major life activities. Two-thirds of childhood ADHD may continue into adulthood.

征兆与症状

Signs and Symptoms

易分心

Easily distracted

难以听从命令教导

Struggles to follow through instructions

任务或活动组织困难

Difficulty organising tasks or activities

常丢东西

Loses things

社交焦虑障碍

Social Anxiety Disorder

患有社交焦虑障碍的青少年在社交与公众场合会表现得过分恐惧。他们过分担心自己会有尴尬或丢人的行为而招致他人的负面想法。这些人常感到自己像站在舞台上一般，十分不自在。这种恐惧可非为两种：个人表现恐惧与交际恐惧。

Teens with Social Anxiety Disorder have an excessive fear of social and or performance situations. They are overly concerned that they may do something embarrassing or humiliating and others will think badly of them. These teens constantly feel that they are “on stage,” which can lead to a great deal of self-consciousness. There are two categories of feared situations: performance-based and interaction-based.

征兆与症状

Signs and Symptoms

过度不自在与焦虑

Excessive self-consciousness and anxiety

极度害怕被关注或评判

Extreme fear of being watched or judged

去往社交场合前过度担忧

Intense worry before a social situation

害怕行为举止尴尬或丢人

Fear that actions will be embarrassing or humiliating

预防措施

防止儿童产生压力

Stop Childhood Stress in its Tracks

儿童也会像成年人一样面临压力，但原因与成年人不同。他们的压力常常既表现为身体症状，也表现在学业中。家长可通过以下方式帮助孩子最大程度减少压力：

Children face stress like adults but causes are different from adults and their manifestations are often reflected in physical symptoms as well as in their academic performance. Parents can help minimise stress for their young children by doing the following:

? 停止过度的学习工作计划

校内与课外活动之余，孩子需要通过休息来恢复活力，然而他们自己却可能并不知晓。所以知道孩子什么时候过度疲劳很重要。

Stop overscheduling

With school and extra-curricular activities, children need downtime to rejuvenate and they might not realise this by themselves. So knowing when children are overworking is important.

? 安排娱乐时间

做一些无需压力的活动，在这些游戏中不要出现教学或竞争的内容。年幼的孩子能够很自然地做游戏，但年长的孩子或已经忘记如何简单地玩耍了。

Allocate play time

Have activities that do not pressurise. There should be no lesson or competition to these games. Younger kids will do this naturally but older kids may forget how to simply play.

? 保证充足的睡眠

睡眠在儿童成长初期至关重要，而好的睡眠质量将有助于最大程度减少压力、愉悦心情、学习进步。

Ensure ample sleep

Sleep is paramount during their early years and having good sleep helps to minimise stress, boost mood and improve school performance.

? 教会儿童如何积极面对错误

儿童的压力通常源自对犯错的恐惧。家长需要向孩子强调，他们无需知晓或做对任何事，更重要的是他们如何改正错误。

Teach children to deal with mistakes positively

Children’s stress often originates from the fear of making mistakes. Emphasise that they are not supposed to know or do everything right and what is more important is how they recover from a mistake.

文章转载自微信公众号【RafflesMedical】，已获得作者授权