Parents, Trust Your Instincts When It Comes to Your Child's Mental Health

I have been working with children that suffer from various mental disorders for the last seven years. Most of the children I have worked with are diagnosed with Autism or another Pervasive Developmental Disorder, but I have also encountered my share of children with bipolar disorder, ADHD, and various anxiety and learning disorders. One thing I have learned through my experience is that parents are almost always right when it comes to the health of their children. No one is better than a parent at identifying when there is some sort of problem with their child, often long before the pediatrician, school, or mental health professionals have a clue.

Countless times I have heard the same story - for months or even years, parents, suspecting there is a problem with their child, are told over and over again that they are over-reacting. Doctors and school officials are often dismissive of the parents' concerns, or simply tell the parents that it is only a stage or that the child in question is just being compared to an older sibling. Often, the parent is even blamed for the symptoms the child is exhibiting. Yet, time after time, the parents' concerns turn out to be valid. This does not only apply to mental health disorders, but to physical disorders as well.

Always trust your instincts as a parent:

No one knows your child better than you do, and no one can better sense when there is a problem than you can. You spend more time with your child and have known your child longer than anyone else in your child's life. If you notice a change, no matter how subtle, in the way your child is acting, behaving, sleeping, eating, or interacting with others, it warrants watching and possible further investigation. Children, especially those under the age of six or seven, may be unable to tell you if they feel unwell or if something is wrong. Any persistent change in behavior or regression can be a warning sign of a serious problem.

It is always better to rule out a potential problem than to ignore one:

Do not let your child's doctor convince you that there is nothing wrong with your child if you strongly feel that there is. Seek a second, or a third, opinion. Even if you are indeed over-reacting, it is always better to be cautious, as early diagnosis can make a world of difference when it comes to treatment options and behavioral interventions. Too often problems go undiagnosed for long periods, which can result in secondary issues such as low self-esteem, poor school performance, and social impairments.

Do not give up:

You are your child's best advocate, and both you and your child deserve to be taken seriously. As a parent, it is easy to forget that the pediatrician works for you, not the other way around. If you are unhappy with the way your concerns are handled, insist on further testing or find a new doctor. If there does turn out to be a problem, you will be thankful you followed through and stood up for your child's rights.