Specialist pediatric Psychiatry Clinic
Our psychiatric Clinic attends to all psychiatric complication
Our experienced doctors are there to help diagnose and treat any conditions on your child in need of a psychiatrist
Specialist pediatric Psychiatry Clinic
At the child psychiatry clinic we have practitioners that review children and their families throughout development up to the age of 21years. These children may have a myriad of problems ranging from what may appear as very mild to severe. Common presentations include:-
- Depression
- Autism
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders
- Anorexia
- Self-harm
- Recreational drug abuse
- Psychosis
- School refusal
- Defiance’
- Anxiety
And many more……….
When a child is attended to at the psychiatry clinic it does not necessarily mean they will be put on medication or are crazy or out of their minds. A large number will undergo treatments that may involve behaviour modification, parent management training, psychotherapy, counselling , lifestyle adjustments and a few may require medication.
The primary role of the psychiatrist who is first a medical doctor specialised in mental disorders is to make a clinical diagnosis and rule out any physical conditions that may be causing or contributing to the symptoms. These may include infections, metabolic disorders, hormonal problems, tumours, substances, toxins, medication and so on. The doctor will then go ahead to make a plan of management based on scientific evidence. The clinic is run by qualified specialist psychiatrists and will address the child`s individual needs in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team. This team includes a social worker, clinical and counselling psychologists, play therapist, paediatrician, neurodevelopmental specialist, neurologist, gastroenterologists among many others.
The beauty of having a child, teenager or adolescent whose mental health issues are addressed early is that it guides the trajectory of their life toward their best potential.
Anxiety in Children
Anxiety is excessive and persistently inappropriate fear or worry that may affect one`s wellbeing. It may occur in children just as it does in adults.
Children may also fear heights, darkness, blood, animals, insects and so on but gradually outgrow these fears.
It is normal for a child to be anxious on their first day of school, before a sport competition, before an examination and so on.
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Autism Spectrum Disorder are more likely to suffer anxiety.
Teenagers are also prone to social anxiety.
Severe anxiety for a prolonged period may harm a child`s mental and emotional well-being and affect their self-esteem and confidence. This in turn may make your child avoid and use excuses to keep away from the things/situations/places that make them anxious.
Your child becomes fussy, tearful and clingy
Your child may have difficulty falling asleep or keep waking up at night.
Your child may start bedwetting after achieving months of dry nights.
Your child may have increased nightmares ( more than 1 per week)
He/she may be unable to face simple age-appropriate challenges and avoid attempting new things
Have difficulty concentrating at home or in school
Keep having angry verbal outburst or tantrums
Keep thinking about negative things that are going to happen
Withdraw from their friends or going to public places
Refuse to go to school
A large majority of children present with physical symptoms that may make you think they are physically unwell. Common physical symptoms include:-
Dizziness
Restlessness
Feeling tired frequently despite adequate rest
A noticeable heartbeat that may be quite fast and irregular( palpitations)
Muscle aches and tensions especially around the neck, shoulders and upper back. This is more common among teenagers and older children
Trembling or shaking
Excessive sweating
Stomach aches and headaches that are investigated and have no physical medical explanation
A dry mouth
Nausea and appetite changes
A new school
A new home or a change in living arrangements
A distressing experience like a car accident or house fire
Family arguments or conflicts especially among parents or relatives that may make a child feel insecure and anxious
Bullying
Child abuse ( sexual, physical or emotional that may present as neglect)
Talk to your child and reassure them before normal day-to-day anxiety provoking activities like examinations
You may explain to your child what anxiety is if he/she is old enough to understand. It is important to bring up the links between physical symptoms( like headaches and stomach aches) and anxiety that you may understand.
Think out solutions to combat your child`s anxiety provoking situations together with your child. Do not always give your child the option of avoidance or giving up especially when it comes to day-to-day challenges that he/she may need to face in future. Pulling out your child from a sport they enjoy or transferring their schools due to anxiety may not necessarily solve the issue unless you note a clear trigger not related to your child.
Address external issues that may be contributing to your child`s anxiety like parental conflict.
Seek medical advice at the specialist psychiatry clinic for children.
Keep routines and a predictable lifestyle for your child. Children thrive in routines
In the case of an adverse life experience like bereavement encourage discussion around the event. Look at books and movies that address various emotions to help your child understand their feelings, worries and fears that may arise.
Teach your child how to recognise their own signs of anxiety and seek help from you or any other trusted adult.
Prepare your child for any life changes like a new school, new home, parental separation etc.
Try NOT to be anxious yourself or overprotective. It is advisable NOT to do everything for your child to protect them from anxiety provoking situations. Instead encourage them to face their fears and support them in their own thought out tactics to manage these worries.
Practice relaxation techniques with your child like breathing exercises or anything else you may have noted helps your child calm down.
If your child`s anxiety is not improving or is getting worse despite your self-help interventions.
When your child`s anxiety is persistent and now affecting their academic life, interactions at home and friendships.
Remember severe anxiety for a prolonged period may harm a child`s mental and emotional well-being and affect their self-esteem and confidence into the future.
The doctor will make sure there is no physical medical explanation for your child`s symptoms. This may be through relevant tests or referrals to other consultants.
You may be given questionnaires that screen and attempt to differentiate various types of anxiety disorders in children to guide treatment
You will have counselling and more education on the child`s anxiety and ways you can help
A treatment plan will be instituted once the diagnosis is confirmed. This may include relation techniques training, talk therapy for older children ( cognitive behaviour therapy) and rarely medication known as anxiolytics may be prescribed on individual basis. You will be given a chance to discuss your child`s management.
Emergency Cases
Please feel welcome to contact our us with any general or medical enquiry call us.