Children
are a focal point for families; taking responsibilities for
our young is a big part of our lives. And it's not always easy.
Sometimes they can behaviourally "play up", suffer
from internalisation, complain of tummy aches, become withdrawn
from their friends, irritable, and self-critical. He or she
might have difficulty sleeping and concentrating. The child
could be suffering from depression.
Having
a child that is behaviourally "playing up" puts tremendous
stress on a parents / parent, which can put solid relationships
onto shaky ground. Parents can blame each other for the child's
problems. The situation is often worse if the family is "blended",
when there are children from both past relationships and the
present union or when families are of mixed race or even when
to parent of from quite different world view or norms. In this
case, the stepparent or the weaker parent can become the target
of anger and frustration.
For
the other siblings, the out-of-control child can provoke anger,
fear, jealousy, or awe. Some siblings will try to be as different
as possible, while others carefully watch and wait for their
turn to start playing up.
We
can help children from the age of six and upwards, who are verbalised,
to overcome situations such as bullying, difficult classmates,
introversion, low self -esteem, and the change in family dynamics
(like the arrival of a stepparent).
Postpartum
Depression
An
estimated 70-80% of new mothers experience postpartum letdown,
a mild mood disorder typically known as the "baby blues"
that lasts one to two weeks. But 10-15% suffers postpartum depression,
a more serious mental disorder that can last weeks or sometimes
months.
Although
effective therapies are available for depression and psychoses,
maternal mental problems are often not recognised or treated.
This can prove detrimental, as maternal depression can harm
a newborn's mental and motor development and is
associated with poor impulse control, low self-esteem and behaviour
problems, as the child develops.
