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Young children worry about things that stress them out just like adults do. Children may worry about a buddy going away or losing their favourite toy, whilst adults may worry about their job stability or a conflict with their partner. However, just like adults, kids who use healthy coping mechanisms are more likely to overcome their fears, lessen stress, and overcome challenges. And kids who learn these beneficial coping mechanisms have a higher chance of growing up to be resilient, mentally healthy adults. Some kids who do not develop coping mechanisms on their own tend to be depressed and the best way to treat them is to take them to the best child psychologist in Dubai. 

In this article, we will discuss how you or child psychologists teach children to cope with life’s challenges and help them grow up to become a confident person.

Importance of coping skills in a child’s life

Although nobody wants them, tough events are an inevitable part of life, and coping skills are something we all have so that we could deal with those tough situations. Tough situations could be entirely different for an adult and a child but the impact it leaves on the mind is equal in both. Dealing with tough situations is different and hence the coping mechanism is different too. Helping kids deal with these kinds of anxieties will provide them the coping mechanisms they need to deal with adult-sized issues later in life and will lower their chance of developing mental health issues like depression and anxiety, which are thought to impact one in seven school-age kids.

As parents, it becomes our prime responsibility to carefully watch and observe the tough situations our children are going through and help them deal with every situation if they are not able to do that on their own. Sometimes it becomes difficult even for the parents to understand and help their children to fight against such situations and this is when we must take them to a child psychologist Dubai because if such moments are left untreated or unattended, a child will have to bear the consequences for their entire life by being a depressed and an adult with full of anxiety and rage.

Role of parents in developing helpful coping strategies

By discouraging ineffective coping mechanisms like excessive crying, temper tantrums, blaming oneself, and rage, and supporting constructive coping mechanisms like asking for assistance, saying sorry, and remaining calm, parents may assist children in learning to deal with such difficult situations. 

Encourage kids to talk to an adult about their anxieties when it results in discussions about coping strategies. In fact, studies show that youngsters as young as four and five have an average of 36 ways to describe how they deal with tough situations.

Parents should recognise their children’s sadness and discuss with them various coping mechanisms. Talking to children and supporting them during tough times works wonders for children and helps them in regaining the lost confidence. Adults are usually the role models for children and getting a shoulder to cry during tough situations could be extremely helpful. Also, when children talk to adults regarding their issues, many times they come up with solutions themselves even if parents don’t suggest anything concrete.

Taking children to a child psychiatrist Dubai when things go beyond control is another major responsibility of a parent because psychiatrists are professionals and are able to deal with such things better because they see number of children with such stress and anxiety on a daily basis .

Childhood trauma exposure can have a harmful effect on the brain’s development at a time when it is most susceptible. Maltreatment of children occurs more frequently than is reported. Childhood adversity can include incidents like emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, neglect, and the unexpected death of a parent or other guardian. Adversity in early childhood increases the likelihood of developing psychological and behavioural issues later in life. Adults who were maltreated as children have been found to have higher rates of depression, suicidality, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and violent conduct. Thankfully, all these issues could be treated if the child is given good psychotherapy in Dubai . 

How to cope up with the early life stress?

Childhood traumatising experiences also enhance drug usage and dependency. Those who have undergone childhood trauma start using drugs significantly earlier in life. Stressful situations might have a greater effect on a person’s life if they are exposed to them as a youngster. An individual may be more susceptible to developing psychiatric illnesses or addiction if they combine childhood trauma with divorce or unemployment.

But, not all kids who encounter stress in their early lives go on to acquire mental illnesses. It would appear that factors other than your past experiences—such as your genes, coping mechanisms, and brain regulation—have an impact on how you handle stressful situations. Stress and emotional control are aided by brain chemicals like oxytocin and cortisol. There are various adolescent counselling services which help youngsters to cope up with the early life trauma and stress in the best way possible.

Some information about oxytocin

The brain naturally produces the hormone oxytocin. It is sometimes referred to as the “love hormone” since it promotes sociability, emotional control, and bonding between romantic partners as well as between mothers and their children. Individual differences exist in the quantity of oxytocin present in the brain. Oxytocin regulation varies between men and women, yet it’s critical to everyone’s day-to-day functioning. Even our reactions to stress are impacted by variations in the oxytocin gene.

The oxytocin system, which begins to grow in the womb and continues to develop after birth, can also be influenced by environmental variables. According to our experiences, important changes happen during infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Early childhood experiences can mould the oxytocin system in either a positive or harmful way.

How does childhood trauma or early life stress impact adolescents?

Research has shown that early trauma alters how the oxytocin system develops. The hypothalamus and the amygdala, which are significant brain areas for the generation of oxytocin and, correspondingly, the regulation of emotion, are affected by early life stress on oxytocin levels. During early life trauma, even the oxytocin receptor’s functionality is changed. Humans who have been subjected to childhood trauma exhibit similar alterations. Later in adulthood, oxytocin levels were lower among males who had experienced childhood stress as well as women who had been subjected to child maltreatment. The results of behaviour are impacted by these long-lasting alterations. Rodents that experience early adversity have more anxious and depressed behaviours throughout maturity.

According to research, early childhood stress can affect the oxytocin system’s development, making people more likely to become drug dependent and less able to handle stress. In consequence, a well functioning oxytocin system can provide increased resistance to addiction and excessive drug use. The impact of childhood trauma can definitely impact an adolescent in a big way but a good child psychologist Dubai will definitely be able to understand their problems and treat them so that they eventually forget their past and enjoy their present.

Relationship between children and parents is very important as it shapes the present and future of the children. It has been seen that the modern day parents have become so busy with their work and lifestyle that they tend to spend very less time with their children which weakens their bond with each other. Even the dinner time at the dinner table is usually spent on mobile phones or watching television which is why the family bond becomes weaker. A healthy parent-children relationship does not only make the children happy and confident but also makes them comfortable with parents where they are able to share even the smallest and biggest problems of their lives with their parents. Even the Best child psychologist in Dubai suggests that the relationship between the parent and the children should be concrete and parents must be involved completely so that the children do not feel lonely.

Now the question is, how can we connect better with our children in this modern lifestyle so that everything remains balanced without affecting anything? Well, we will discuss this in depth in this article.

Listen to your children carefully

Even when the information or situation being shared by your child may have been unsafe or improper, it is crucial to actively listen to them. This is especially true when they feel confident enough to disclose details and be honest with you. Ask questions, acknowledge their worries, and, where appropriate, collaborate to seek solutions rather than replying to surprising news. Your youngster is turning to you because they believe in you. Keep your composure and pay attention to what they have to say. If you handle their queries well and answer all their questions in a calm and composed manner, they will never feel awkward in sharing personal problems which is very good for you being a parent. It is always good to see your child trusting you in sharing all their small problems. Listening to them will definitely make the bonding stronger

Be present with them physically, mentally and emotionally

Get off your laptop and mobile phone to be physically, mentally, and emotionally present with your child. Take some time to play outside with them if they are young. One of the simplest methods to create an enduring, loving, and trustworthy parent-child relationship with your children is to engage in play together.
An excellent technique to strengthen relationships with kids of all ages is to have dinner together without any gadgets. Talk with them about their friends, activities, school day, and anything else that comes to mind. Even though you’ll probably receive an annoyed eye roll, they’ll value it later on. They will also be aware that their parents are available for them at all times. This will increase their confidence and trust in you and make the bonding very strong.

Make children realise that you are not perfect too

Even while it might be challenging for virtually everyone at times to be open and vulnerable, it’s just as crucial to let your children into your life as it is for them to do the same for you. Trust and vulnerability are directly influencing. A youngster will feel understood and at ease if they are aware that even you occasionally experience sadness, make mistakes, or make terrible decisions. It’s OK to apologise and acknowledge your mistake when a parent screams at you. Your child’s ability to empathise and further develop their confidence in you will increase if you explain how even adults experience fatigue, stress, or sadness sometimes.

Work together

In a parent-child relationship, the parent does not always have the upper hand. Your child will feel more engaged in the situation and probably try more to help fix it if they can contribute to the solution. Together, parents and kids may work on enhancing their ability to cope, solve problems, and think critically. You’ll become more familiar with one another as a result of this procedure. They will also be more knowledgeable about how to take care of one another and themselves in the future.

How do you know if your child is struggling emotionally?

You will definitely get to know that your child is struggling emotionally by carefully observing the below symptoms. If you observe any of them in your children, you can visit an indian child psychologist dubai for further consultation

• Mood Swings

Every youngster occasionally has a bad day or fights with their siblings for an afternoon. But occasionally their attitude might indicate that another reason might be at play. Low mood or apathy may indicate that your child is experiencing anxiety or depression. Additionally, kids may become angry more quickly than normal. Children that are distressed may try many various activities, but they often don’t appear happy with the outcome. Anxiety may appear as mental wandering, inability to focus on one topic at a time, and compulsive multitasking.

• Panicking in certain activities

Of course, we would all like to stay away from specific circumstances. However, if your child is unwilling to engage in some of the things they used to like or is overreacting and becoming anxious when an activity or trip is recommended, this may indicate a more serious issue. It’s crucial to discuss any avoidance of an activity with your child and attempt to determine the root causes of their reluctance.

• Sleeping disorders

Children who are worried or who have racing thoughts may have trouble falling asleep. They could have a harder time falling asleep, waking up early in the morning, or waking up after only a short period of sleep. It’s possible that certain sleep issues are just a normal part of growing up. But if your child is having trouble at night, it’s crucial to watch out for other indications of poor mental health. For instance, if they cry often, get angry easily, or have trouble concentrating, this might indicate something more serious as these sleeping disorders could indicate mental health issues.