Anxiety disorder, as a common mental illness, is plaguing the lives of countless people, especially against the backdrop of increasing societal pressures today. Anxiety not only affects our emotions and mental health but may also lead to severe physical problems. This article will start from a case of an 8-year-old girl developing mental disorders due to her parents’ divorce, exploring the causes, manifestations, and how to deal with and treat anxiety disorders.
Case Background: Childhood Anxiety under the Shadow of Divorce
This 8-year-old girl, after her parents’ divorce, fell into deep mental disorders. She showed extreme emotional instability, strong hostility towards her father, often biting him, hitting him, and insulting him. Although the father stayed by her side 24 hours a day, her behavior still caused great distress. This situation has attracted much attention and discussion.
Causes of Anxiety Disorders
There are multiple complex causes of anxiety disorders, including genetic factors, physiological factors, psychological factors, and environmental factors.
Genetic factors: Studies have shown that anxiety disorders have a certain genetic predisposition. If one or both parents have anxiety disorders, the chances of the child being affected are higher.
Physiological factors: Imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, may lead to the appearance of anxiety symptoms.
Psychological factors: Childhood experiences, personality traits, coping methods, and other psychological factors play important roles in the onset of anxiety disorders. For example, people who have experienced significant trauma or have lived in tense environments for prolonged periods are more likely to develop anxiety disorders.
Environmental factors: The fast-paced modern life, work pressures, tense interpersonal relationships, etc., are important environmental factors leading to anxiety disorders. Particularly, major life events such as divorce, unemployment, bereavement, are often triggers for anxiety disorders.
Case Analysis: Impact of Parents’ Divorce on Children
In this case, parents’ divorce is the main reason for the girl’s anxiety disorder. Divorce not only signifies a change in family structure but also means the child loses their sense of security and stability. The girl’s extreme behaviors indicate her inner fear and uneasiness. Her hostility towards her father may be because she sees him as the reason for the family breakup or because she hopes to attract attention from her mother in this way.
Manifestations of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders manifest in various ways, with common symptoms including:
Emotional symptoms: Persistent tension, unease, fear, and worry.
Physical symptoms: Palpitations, sweating, tremors, chest tightness, rapid breathing, dizziness, etc.
Cognitive symptoms: Excessive worry about the future, doubts about one’s abilities, difficulty concentrating, etc.
Behavioral symptoms: Social avoidance, avoidance of specific situations, repeated checking, etc.
How to Deal with and Treat Anxiety Disorders
The treatment of anxiety disorders requires comprehensive consideration of psychological therapy, medication, and lifestyle adjustments.
Psychological therapy:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps patients establish positive thinking patterns and coping strategies by changing their cognition and behavior.
Family therapy: Especially for child patients, family therapy can help parents understand their child’s emotions better, learn to support and accompany them more effectively.
Medication therapy:
Common medications include anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants. Under a doctor’s guidance, the proper use of medication can effectively alleviate anxiety symptoms.
Lifestyle adjustments:
Maintain a regular schedule: Sticking to a regular schedule helps stabilize emotions.
Healthy diet: Balanced nutrition helps boost physical resistance and mental well-being.
Regular exercise: Exercise can release stress and improve mood.
Cultivate interests and hobbies: Finding activities of interest can divert attention and reduce anxiety.
Recommendations for Solving the Case
For this 8-year-old girl’s situation, the following suggestions are recommended:
Professional psychological counseling: It is recommended that the father take the girl to a professional psychological institution for counseling to understand her true feelings and help her manage her emotions.
Improvement of family relationships: If possible, involve the mother in the child’s life, ensuring that even if they cannot remarry, the child can feel the love and care from both parents.
Reasonable emotional release: Teach the girl to express and release her emotions reasonably, such as through drawing, writing, etc.
Father’s support: During the time spent with the child, the father should maintain patience and tolerance, giving her more love and a sense of security.
Although anxiety disorder is a common and serious mental illness, it can be alleviated and cured through scientific treatment and proactive strategies. For children trapped in anxiety due to family upheavals, parents and society should provide them with sufficient attention and support. It is only in an atmosphere of love and understanding that children can emerge from the shadows and embrace a brighter future.
