06/08/2024
Common Childhood Conditions that Can Present with behavioural Problems
Before you conclude that your child or your family have been attacked spiritually or are being manipulated by some mystical/magical/evil powers, spend some time to read through these common childhood problems.
They are conditions that can be seen even in little children but can present with problem behaviour and can leave a feeble-minded parent to get superstitious.
1. Anxiety Disorder- excessive fear, can lead to impairment in functioning like schooling, personal and toilet hygiene. A child who had stopped wetting the bed could start again and wont stop even into teenage years and young adult. Usually arises from unhealthy childhood experiences and ongoing toxic family dynamics.
2. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)- a disorder of child's brain and nervous development in the womb. Usually presents with problems of inattention and hyperactivity. The child finds it extremely difficult to maintain attention and concentration, presents as very disorganized, very impulsive (not thinking through actions). All these can impact negatively on the child's ability to function at home, in school, in the market, in religious gatherings
3. Conduct disorder (CD): This set of children are prone to a pattern of behaviour that regarded as antisocial, violating the basic rights of others or societal norms that are expected to be age appropriate. These children show behaviours that leave the family and the public in shock and terrified. They are usually fighters with weapons, can engage in destruction of property, deceitfulness, bullying, theft etc.
4. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)- not at the same intensity with CD, but they disobey rules, refuse to abide laid down norms but usually do not violate the rights of others. They are more prone to being argumentative, intentionally annoying others, vindictiveness.
5. Autism spectrum disorder- a condition that presents with deficits in social communication, restricted and fixated interest, and speech deficits and language delays. They prefer sameness. They do not like changes in routines, may throw tantrums when changes are applied. They are cold to cuddling, may avoid parents, they don't usually socialise.
6. Cerebral palsy- a condition arising from damage or trauma to the brain during child birth usually as a result of either small birth canal, over sized baby, or anything than can restrict easy passage of the baby leading to prolonged labour.
The baby have failure to develop. These children were described as (when I was a child in an Agrican village) as imbe.... They were usually left and locked up in the house when others go out and there is this myth that some of them turn into pythons or snakes.
Others believe the children are product of witchcraft.
There are many more.
Remember, whatever yoyr goals, your Mental Health is Primary.
