Recognizing Psychological Disorders in Children

Psychological disorders are often recognized as adult problems. Childhood and adolescence are expected to be times of lack of worries and fun. Nevertheless, many adolescent and children are suffering from mental disorders, such as: depression, oppositional defiant disorder, and eating disorders. The mistake that parents make, usually due to lack of information or denial, is to dismiss characteristic behavior of these disorders as normal child and teen behavior.

It seems that the mentioned disorders are increasing in our society at an alarming rate. According to Kathryn Murphy: "In the United States one in 33 young children and one in eight adolescents suffer from depression. Today, depression and suicidal behavior occur earlier in life than 50 years ago." (Murphy, 2004.)

In the case of anorexia nervosa, the rates are also increasing, and from being an almost unknown disorder, it is now common to hear from the disorder in the media and the many pro-anorexia, pro-bulimia websites, which claim the disease to be a lifestyle choice. According to Wendy Richardson: "Our culture is obsessed with thinness. Food is OK, but don't gain weight." (Richardson 2004). Just in 2006, four models died of starvation in order to follow the fashion industry standards.

Sisters Iliana and Luisel Ramos, Ana Carolina Reston, and Carla Sobrado Casalle, died while following severe restrictive diets such as only lettuce, tomatoes, and diet soda. At the time of their deaths these women, who were all over 5'7" weighed less than a hundred pounds. These deaths are just an example of the many girls and women who are suffering from the disorder or have died from it.

Bulimia and overeating are also two common disorders in adolescents and even girls under 10 years of age. The problem with these disorders is that they are easier to conceal than anorexia, because the weight fluctuations are not so evident, and people often see them eating, but not the secretive purging behavior. Both anorexia and bulimia are equally life threatening.