The child experiences unexplained physical discomfort, suddenly becomes quiet and reserved, and sees a steep decline in grades
Many parents' first reactions are: rebelliousness during adolescence, being overly sensitive, unwillingness to learn, and having a fragile heart.
But in fact, these seemingly "disobedient" abnormal changes are often not rebellion, but rather the silent cries for help that children hide deep in their hearts and cannot express.
When children cannot express their emotions or manage stress, they can only quietly tell adults through changes in behavior, body, and state: "I can't hold on anymore, I need help."
1. The neglected mental health status of adolescents
In recent years, mental health issues among adolescents have become increasingly prevalent, and have long been a focal point of concern in family education and society.
A set of heart-wrenching data deserves every parent's careful attention: the total prevalence of mental disorders among school students aged 6 to 16 in China is 17.5%, of which depressive disorders account for 3.0%, and the detection rate of adolescent depression has reached 24.6%.
According to data from The Lancet, over 50% of adult mental disorders exhibit early symptoms before the age of 14. Adolescence represents a golden window for psychological intervention. Once this window is missed, the effectiveness of subsequent intervention will decrease by over 70%.
Many children's psychological issues do not emerge suddenly. They are accumulated and aggravated little by little due to long-term neglect, misunderstanding, and procrastination.
2. Four dimensions to understand children's distress signals
Many parents cannot distinguish between normal emotional fluctuations during adolescence and psychological issues that require medical attention?
Core judgment criteria: The condition persists for more than two weeks and significantly affects life, learning, and social interaction. If your child exhibits the following persistent changes, do not dismiss it as mere "moodiness"!
Emotional signal: no longer happy, persistently feeling down
Suddenly becoming pessimistic, sensitive, and prone to crying, experiencing irritability, anger, and temper tantrums for no apparent reason;
Or they may become completely numb and indifferent, showing no interest in the games, hobbies, or social activities they once enjoyed;
Long-term emotional depression, emptiness, lack of enthusiasm, often saying "meaningless, doesn't matter".
✅Tip: This is not a deterioration in personality, but a typical manifestation of anxiety and depression.
Behavioral signals: State decline, abnormal behavior
Academic performance declines abruptly without warning, accompanied by weariness towards learning, truancy, procrastination, and giving up;
Refusing social interaction, isolating oneself, locking oneself in the room all year round, unwilling to communicate or go out;
Their daily routines are completely disrupted, with days and nights reversed, staying up late and suffering from insomnia, and indulging in the internet to escape reality;
Some even exhibit self-destructive behaviors such as self-denial and scratching their arms.
✅ Tip: This is the most urgent psychological distress signal sent by the child, and it must be taken seriously.
Physical signals: no identified cause, yet feeling unwell all over
Frequent headaches, recurrent abdominal pain, inexplicable chest tightness, and long-term fatigue and weakness;
After being examined at multiple general hospitals, all indicators were normal, yet I still felt unwell.
✅Tip: This is a typical case of psychosomatization. When psychological stress has nowhere to vent, the body eventually becomes "ill" on behalf of the mind.
Cognitive signals: self-denial, slowed thinking
Habitually belittling oneself, always saying "I'm useless", "I can't do anything well", "I'm not as good as others";
Diffuse attention, decreased memory, sluggish response, and significantly reduced learning and thinking efficiency;
Frequently experiencing negative and pessimistic thoughts, with no anticipation for the future.
3. The most common misconception parents should avoid: psychological issues are not a sign of weakness or being overly sensitive
Faced with their children's abnormal states, many parents' first words are often the most hurtful: "What pressure does a little kid have?" "You're just too sensitive and fragile!" "Everyone else can persevere, but not you?"
Please remember: Psychological issues are not personality flaws, nor are they failures of family education, and certainly not deliberate rebellion by children. They are akin to a mental cold, a psychological illness that requires acknowledgment, understanding, and professional treatment. Procrastination, denial, and accusation will only lead children to completely shut down their emotions, missing the optimal intervention period. Early detection, assessment, and intervention are the core keys to addressing psychological issues among adolescents.
4. Seize the golden age of adolescent psychological growth
To precisely address the psychological and emotional distress of local adolescents in Hainan and respond to the urgent needs of parents, Hainan Chengmei Hospital has specially invited Professor Su Zhaoxia to provide regular consultations, safeguarding the mental health of adolescents.
Professor Su Zhaoxia has been deeply involved in the field of clinical psychology for many years and possesses extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of adolescent mental health issues. She specializes in diagnosing and treating common psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia disorders in adolescents. She also provides targeted solutions to various psychosomatic issues such as academic stress, emotional outbursts, social phobia, and rebellious behavior in children. Additionally, she offers professional psychological guidance for family education, parent-child relationship counseling, and psychological behavior intervention, addressing problems from both the child and family perspectives.
Many parents mistakenly believe that psychiatry is merely about "talking and counseling" or "simply prescribing medication". However, this is not the case. A formal and professional modern medical psychiatry department constitutes a complete and scientific diagnostic and treatment system:
✅ Accurate psychological assessment to pinpoint the root of the problem
✅ Diversified psychological therapy, to alleviate emotions and correct cognition
✅ Scientifically and normatively prescribe medication and implement symptomatic intervention
✅ Long-term health management, stable psychological state, and prevention of relapse
We should not ignore every minor abnormality, nor miss any golden intervention window, and we should diligently guard the spiritual growth of every teenager.
[Clinic Hours]
August 19th, 8:00-12:00 AM
For future clinic hours, please follow the official account of Hainan Chengmei Hospital
[Visit location]
Seventh Consultation Area of Hainan Chengmei Hospital