Child’s Cry for Help
When children’s behaviour may be a cry for help!
Sometimes children’s unwanted behaviour is a sign of something more sinister and is really a cry for help! I was recently asked about when a child’s behaviour crosses the line from really bad behaviour to a cry for help that needs a different approach. I thought it was a very good question and as a first attempt to address this important issue this article looks at types of behaviour that may indicate that a child is having difficulties in their life such as abuse. I am sure you would agree that these types of symptoms need assistant from a professional straight away.
Self harming: Such as self-cutting, burning, or suicidal thoughts or attempts.
Eating problems: Not eating properly including starving themselves or binge eating, which is often a sign that they want more control in their life and can turn in to severe eating disorders.
Dependency: Being anxious, clingy, not wanting to leave a safe adults side, or a best friend.
Cruelty to animals: A child may become aggressive towards animals.
Behavioural problems: Signs such as aggression or becoming very shy, crying a lot, withdrawn and socially isolating themselves.
School performance: Change in a child’s grades or behaviour in school can be a sign of an underlying problem.
Development: Regression in behaviour such as thumb sucking bed wetting not wanting to sleep on their own or talking in a baby voice.
Sexual content: If a child has started to talk about sex inappropriately or in more detail that they should know about.
Substance abuse: Using illicit drugs and /or drinking too much is a sign that a child is trying to hide from emotional pain.
Hiding: This can be in many forms from keeping their emotions bottled up, hiding in the cupboard, under the bed, or hide from life in general. Some children make up a fantasy world and prefer to live there instead.
Nightmares: Having nightmares every night of the week, or reoccurring dreams for weeks or even months on end.
Triggers: A certain activity, smell, colour or person etc may trigger a child to behave abnormally.
You know your child better than anyone else, if you see these symptoms cropping up in your child’s behaviour take the time to look deeper into their life and trust your instincts!
Taken from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2009).
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