More often than not, parents tend to overlook certain behaviour that their children convey, without considering what this behaviour may have resulted from. This, however, should never be you, as your child may be going through something that can be life-altering without you knowing. You, therefore, need to pay attention to all the changes that happen in their life so that if they are in any danger, you can detect it very quickly and get the chance to address them. Here are some behaviours that should sound an alarm in you if your child ever conveys them.
Sudden Isolation
Children usually love being around their loved ones as this makes them feel involved and cared for. However, if your child suddenly withdraws and starts avoiding being around friends and family, like they used to, this should sound an alarm in you. Something may have possibly happened to them, that sent a mental note that they did not belong among everyone else anymore or that they were now different from everyone and did not deserve their love anymore. Make sure that if your child starts self-isolating, you look into it and create a safe environment where they can open up about it. If it becomes too intense, consider even seeking therapy so that you can get to the bottom of everything.
A Decline In Grades
One clear sign that your child is going through something that is resulting in their mental health being compromised, due to a decline in grades. If your child starts getting bad grades out of the blue, something is probably distracting them from focusing on school as they used to anymore. While it can be something minor, that can be corrected off the bat, it is possible that it can be a result of deeper issues like abuse or bullying, which is why you don't want to leave things unaddressed.
Sudden Violent Outbursts
If your kid suddenly exhibits violent behaviour out of the blue, you should be alarmed and look into it immediately. It may be that they are starting to associate with corrupt companies and if you don't stop this now, they will become worse. In a worst-case scenario, they may have adopted this violence as a trauma response to something that they are going through or something that they went through and did not share with you. If you want to ensure that you correct this behaviour and give your child the support they need, you should, therefore, not pass violent behaviour as growth or something silly but look into it.
Any Symptoms Of Self-harm
Self-harm is a serious sign of self-hate that may have developed due to mental illnesses like depression. If your child is not stopped, they may end up seriously hurting themselves. When your child threatens to hurt themselves or even mess with their own lives, never take it lightly. Sometimes it isn't just an empty threat and can lead to them being seriously in danger. You should, therefore, look into it a bit more. Also, probe any scars that you may notice on your child?s body that you weren't aware of. Self-harming is not something to take lightly at all and needs to be looked into.
Sudden Change In Friends
While it's normal for kids to make several connections and meet new acquaintances, if these friends are of a certain calibre that does not align with the values that you know your child has, and they suddenly stop playing with their previous friends, there is something wrong going on there. Maybe the group of friends your child will start playing with may even be older or known for their mischief, yet your child starts hanging out with them more frequently. If this happens, chances are that there is more to the story than meets the eye and as a parent, it is your prerogative to investigate the underlying circumstances.
Extreme Mood Swings
Unless your child is transitioning into a teenager and is going through puberty, if they start exhibiting signs of moodiness, then you need to look into it. If your happy child suddenly becomes overly sad, you need to find out what is causing this. Your child may be sick or going through something that they need support with while you are punishing them instead of looking into it more mindfully. Make sure you approach the situation gently and investigate the reasons behind any mood swings your child may be having.
Sudden Change In Appetite
As a parent, you know your child's eating pattern by now. This means that if they suddenly start eating less or eating way more you will notice. A change in eating habits is a symptom of so many things, including mental and physical illnesses. You, therefore, shouldn't take these changes lightly but investigate everything further so that you can establish what may be going on with your child and help them out.
Intense Fear Over Newfound Triggers
If your child suddenly exhibits symptoms of extreme fear and they stop enjoying certain things that they used to love but instead start being scared of them, then an alarm should instantly sound In your mind. If you need to see a doctor or a therapist to figure it out, then you should because as much as the child may deny it, something may be going on with them, and as a parent, you must intervene.