Already in the first grade, parents and teachers are faced with such a problem as school neurosis. Neurological disorder in schoolchildren is reversible, therefore, the sooner treatment is started, the faster the child can be relieved of the unpleasant symptoms of the disease. Neuroses in children of primary school age serve as the first signal of possible serious mental problems in later life. Parents in such a situation are simply obliged to take measures to eliminate the disease, and not wait for everything to go away on its own.
Not a disease, but a problem
School neurosis, like all other neuroses, is not considered an independent disease today. Doctors don’t even have such a diagnosis - instead, the international classification of diseases has only the vague concept of “neurotic disorders associated with stress.” But, nevertheless, any psychologist will tell you that neurosis today is one of the most common problems, and it is especially common in school-age children.
Tatyana Dunaeva: “School neurosis is a psychological and emotional disorder that occurs as a result of stress and disruption of a child’s adaptation to school. To make it clearer, we can say that this is an inadequate reaction of the child to everyday situations and problems that arise at school.
Neurosis is always based on some kind of internal conflict between the personality and character of a person and the situation around him.
If this conflict cannot be resolved in a normal way, a state of neurosis develops, which for the child’s psyche becomes a kind of defensive reaction.
School neurosis can manifest itself in many different ways; this largely depends on the child’s personality traits. But in any case, all neuroses, even long-term ones, are a reversible condition, arise in children with neurotic personality traits, develop and intensify under the influence of some traumatic situation.”
Condition correction
Like any other disease, school neurosis responds well to treatment in the initial stages. There are different ways to correct school neuroses: discussing the situation with teachers and the class teacher, a confidential conversation between the student and his parents, and a friendly home atmosphere.
Treatment of neurosis-like conditions in children is carried out by the following specialists:
- psychologist (helps to establish trusting relationships in the family, develop the right parenting tactics);
- neurologist (conducts examination and treatment of neurological diseases);
- psychotherapist (helps overcome obsessions);
- specialists of a narrow profile (if necessary, a doctor - an endocrinologist, a psychiatrist is involved in treatment, in addition, some types of neuroses can be effectively treated with the help of reflexology, massage, acupuncture).
In most cases, simple measures are sufficient in the initial stages. If teachers find an approach to children with similar problems, and parents, in turn, make every effort to ensure that children grow up more confident in themselves and their abilities, school does not cause disgust and horror in children.
The Many Faces of Neurosis
The symptoms of school neurosis are as varied as the causes. In a child in a state of neurotic disorder, literally everything changes: interests, emotional reactions, habits, behavior and even well-being. Based on which symptoms predominate, it is customary to distinguish three main forms of neurosis: neurasthenia, obsessive-compulsive neurosis, and hysterical neurosis.
Neurasthenia most often manifests itself as complaints of fatigue and weakness. The child becomes whiny, touchy, easily irritated, afraid of everything, and stops coping with the usual workload. Very often this is accompanied by complaints about well-being, which most often appear in the first half of the day. Concerns include headache and dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain, sleep and appetite disturbances.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder consists of two main symptoms: obsessive thoughts and obsessive actions. Most often, fears and expectations become obsessive - being called to the board, getting a bad grade, losing a notebook, etc. Obsessive actions take on the character of a “protective ritual” that the child performs to protect himself from a threat - he goes to school along a certain route, counts the steps on the stairs, etc.
Hysterical neurosis manifests itself most clearly - outbursts of violent emotions, sudden attacks of “bad” health in the form of abdominal pain, headache, vomiting, breathing problems, fainting, muscle tics or cramps.
Tatyana Dunaeva: “Parents often mistake the first manifestations of school neurosis for whims, bad behavior and the child’s desire to attract attention. To avoid such a mistake and not to miss the onset of a neurotic disorder, it is necessary to monitor the child’s condition and pay attention to any changes in his behavior.”
The development of neurosis may be indicated by the appearance of problems with memory and concentration, restlessness and demonstrative “foolishness”, tearfulness and unreasonable fears of school, the habit of biting a pen or nails, biting lips, fiddling with hair, clothes or other objects, constantly wet palms.
Definition and reasons
School neurosis is constant, persistent stress, fear and phobias associated with school. Research has shown that about 30% of children 7 or 8 years old cannot independently get used to a new environment or establish contact with teachers and other children; they need qualified psychological help.
The main causes of such stress are:
- Problems with teachers - an adult, despite a higher education, was unable to correctly convey his own subject to the child, and does not know how to talk to children. On the other hand, the child himself initially does not know the basic rules of behavior;
- Family environment - parents require only positive assessments from the child, otherwise they are seriously punished. The student develops complexes and a fear of going home, especially if he receives a bad grade. Much attention is paid to the lack of mutual understanding, love and care towards the younger family member;
- Difficulties in adaptation - there is no opportunity to get used to a clearly established regime, there is no perseverance during the lesson or attentiveness and concentration during the educational process.
- Communication difficulties - some children do not go to kindergarten, they are alone in the family. It is precisely these people who find it difficult to talk with a team; they feel uncomfortable, as if out of place.
- Living conditions - socio-economic factors play an important role here: dissatisfaction with material conditions, comparing them with other families, lack of conditions for a long comfortable rest, accelerated pace of life.
The child’s character itself, his temperament and upbringing also influences. These parameters include excessive responsibility or, conversely, indifference to the world around us, unconventional flights of thought, and increased concern. All this together negatively affects future behavior, worldview and relationships with other people in society.
Children can be divided into three categories:
- The first group includes children with obvious behavioral deviations. They are rude to others, in particular teachers, and behave aggressively towards classmates. Usually they study poorly, but their own self-esteem is excessively high;
- The second group are children who initially work well and receive positive grades, but over time, due to overload, they change. They snap, withdraw into themselves and become uncommunicative. Very often this begins at the age of 8, when everything was wonderful in the first grade, but then, due to an increase in the volume of material, everything changed dramatically.
- The third group is schoolchildren with constant external well-being, correct behavior and good work in class, but inside there is a fear of going to the blackboard, which is manifested by trembling hands and voices, tearfulness, isolation, and low self-esteem. They are not able to fully reveal their own talent in team work; they require individual tasks.
How can I help my child?
If a neurosis has already formed, then neither the child nor the parents will be able to cope with it on their own; in this situation, it is necessary to contact a psychologist as quickly as possible. There is no general treatment plan for neurosis; all methods are selected only on an individual basis and adjusted as the child’s condition changes.
Preventing neurosis is much easier than curing it, and several fairly simple recommendations have been developed for its prevention.
- Do not let your child’s school life get out of control - be aware of his relationships with classmates and teachers. If any conflicts arise, try to find out their cause. In any situation, be on the child’s side so that he constantly feels parental protection.
- Always take into account the characteristics of the child’s physical and mental development, and do not put too high demands on him. If a child has no inclinations or abilities for something, do not expect great success from him in this area.
- If there is a constant stress factor at school or in a class that cannot be eliminated, consider transferring the child to another school or class. When making a decision, be sure to take into account the opinion of the child himself.
- A child should always have time and energy for an interesting life outside of school. Let him choose what he would like to do in his free time. It is advisable that this involves some kind of regular physical activity.
- If you have the right motivation, it will be easier to “survive” school. The child must understand why he is studying and what result his efforts will lead to in a few years.
Tatyana Dunaeva: “In order to avoid neurosis, a child must be taught how to cope with stressful situations correctly. Children aged 11-12 years and older can be taught simple relaxation and stress management techniques. This could be breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, methods of switching attention, etc.
Younger children will need parental help. To begin with, you can ask the child to draw his feelings, sensations, thoughts that he has in this difficult situation. Then invite him to draw what they should be like if everything is correct and good. Then try together to change the first drawing, bringing it closer to the “ideal” second.
You can also invite your child to compose a fairy tale together, where the main character will have the same problems, and then help this character gradually solve them, and thereby overcome his own neurosis.”
School neurosis is far from the only reason for a child’s bad behavior. In this material we tell you what parents should do if a teacher complains about their child.
- share with your friends!
Experts: Tatyana Vladimirovna Dunaeva
Follow us on Facebook:
Diagnostics
Unfortunately, the range of the list of neuroses in schoolchildren is very large, which makes it difficult to diagnose the category of psychoneurological disorders. Only an experienced therapist - neurologist can correctly determine the type of illness and prescribe psychocorrective treatment.
And to start a diagnosis, first of all, it is necessary to communicate with the parents and find out the situation in the family. Then, study the situation at school. The child's relationships with teachers and peers. And in a conversation with the patient himself, determine his painful points, the main irritants.
Highlight the main features of his personality development, taking into account age and individual capabilities. Testing is carried out in a playful way, using the child’s drawings, which are very informative. Also in a confidential conversation.
Based on the results of the examination, including laboratory tests, consultations with several specialists in the field, treatment is prescribed that corresponds to the psychosomatic state of the neurotic.
Relaxation
Warm baths with the addition of soothing essential oils are very helpful in unloading the student’s nervous system. Massages, therapeutic exercises, swimming.
It has been noted that communication with animals has a healing effect on the child’s psyche. Get a pet. At least a small aquarium with fish. Watching their lives is very relaxing and calming. And if you can’t, go to the zoo. In modern menageries, children are given the opportunity to pet some of the animals. Horseback riding and chatting with dolphins in the pool works wonders.
Sources
- https://NashiNervy.ru/tsentralnaya-nervnaya-sistema/chto-delat-dlya-profilaktiki-shkolnyh-nevrozov.html
- https://depressia911.ru/nevroz/shkolnyj-nevroz.html
- https://1neurologia.ru/nevroz/shkolnyj/
- https://www.megamedportal.ru/articles/nevrologiya/profilaktika_nevroza.html
[collapse]
