13 Warning Signs of Mental Illness in Children All Parents Must Be Aware Of

Children often display a range of strange behaviors in response to new things they discover in the world. It’s because they are experiencing things for the first time that they feel things so intensely. However, there are some behaviors that might actually be signs that your child has a behavioral or emotional disorder.

According to Ann Douglas, author of “Parenting Through the Storm: Find Help, Home, and Strength When Your Child Has Psychological Problems”, if you see any of these signs in your child, it may be a good idea to consult a counselor just to be on the safe side.

1. Your child is having a difficult time at school.

2. Your child hurts or bullies other children.

3. You child has attempted to hurt themselves on purpose.

4. Your child avoids interacting with friends and family.

5. Your child has frequent mood swings.

6. Your child experiences intense emotions like extreme anger or fear.

7. Your child lacks motivation.

8. Your child finds it hard to concentrate.

9. Your child can't sleep at night or often has nightmares.

10. Your child has a lot of physical complaints like aches, pains, and discomfort.

11. Your child doesn't care about their appearance at all.

12. Your child thinks too much about their weight, their body image, or their appearance.

13. Your child is eating too much or too little all of a sudden.

Some of these signs may seem like normal behavior in children. But when taken to the extreme or their behavior hasn’t changed even after you explain why they shouldn’t be doing these things, it could be a sign that these behaviors aren’t just typical “growing pains.”

It’s always important for parents to be aware of these behaviors and not make excuses for them. The best course of action would be to consult a professional such as a guidance counselor in your child’s school, so that they can administer tests that can reveal what the underlying problem may be.