Every time the autumn wind rises, the fallen leaves cover the ground, quietly marking the end of an old semester and the beginning of a new one. For many families, the back-to-school season involves not only preparing backpacks, stationery, and schedules but also the process of parents’ psychological expectations and children’s emotional adjustments. However, many parents have found that their children exhibit abnormally irritable and insomniac conditions during this period, tossing and turning at night struggling to fall asleep. Such occurrences have raised concerns among parents: is their child suffering from depression?
Before answering this question, we need to understand that depression, as a psychological disorder, requires a professional psychological consultant to diagnose based on the patient’s clinical manifestations and severity. Simple insomnia or irritability does not directly equate to depression. However, if these conditions persist for a long time and affect a child’s daily life, they may be warning signs of certain mental or psychological issues, in which depression is just one possibility.
To delve into the reasons behind children’s insomnia and irritability at the beginning of the school season, we can first examine this issue from a seasonal perspective. Human physiological and psychological health are closely related to natural rhythms. The back-to-school season falls at the transition from summer to autumn, with decreasing daylight hours and cooler weather changes that could affect people’s emotions and sleep quality. Especially for children who have just passed a carefree summer vacation and suddenly need to readjust to a regular life, the adjustment of their biological clock requires a process.
We can also explore this phenomenon from a psychological perspective. The back-to-school season signifies a new learning environment, new relationships with peers, and new challenges, which could pose significant psychological pressure for children whose mental resilience is not yet fully developed. Psychologists point out that anxiety and stress are common causes of insomnia. Children feel uneasy about the unknown and changes they are about to face, and this uneasiness translates into internal tension and anticipatory anxiety, affecting their sleep patterns.
The changes in the social environment are also a factor that cannot be ignored. With the intensification of social competition, expectations and pressures from families, schools, and peers are constantly increasing. Children are required to showcase themselves in academics, extracurricular activities, and various other aspects, and this pressure sometimes exceeds their coping abilities. Prolonged accumulation of stress may lead to children experiencing anxiety, and insomnia and irritability are just manifestations of this.
Individual differences should not be underestimated. Each child’s personality, coping strategies, and environmental adaptability are unique. Some children who are naturally sensitive and introverted are more likely to perceive subtle environmental changes and experience significant fluctuations psychologically. In the same environment, these children may find it more challenging to adapt to the changes brought about by the new school year, thus exhibiting more obvious irritability and insomnia.
After considering these various factors, as parents or educators, how can we help children smoothly transition through the back-to-school season and alleviate their irritability and insomnia?
Parents can engage in positive communication with their children, understand their worries and needs, and provide them with emotional support and understanding. A good family atmosphere and reasonable expectations can help alleviate the pressure children feel.
Parents can assist children in establishing healthy sleep habits, such as setting reasonable bedtimes, reducing the frequency of electronic device usage, and increasing daytime physical activity.
The role of schools and teachers is also crucial. Schools can organize adaptation activities to help students reintegrate into the school environment; teachers can pay attention to students’ psychological states in the classroom, identify and assist children in need promptly.
If a child’s irritability and insomnia persist or worsen, seeking professional psychological counseling and intervention is necessary. Professional psychological consultants can assess the child’s situation and provide corresponding psychological interventions and suggestions.
Children’s irritability and insomnia at the beginning of the school season do not directly equate to depression but are a result of multiple factors at play. By comprehensively considering seasonal changes, psychological and environmental factors, and individual differences, we can find corresponding solutions. Parents and educators should work together to provide children with a warm, understanding, and supportive environment, assisting them in successfully facing the challenges of the new school year and helping them grow healthily and happily at this new starting point. During this process, we should not overlook any potential psychological health issues but also avoid overinterpreting individual conditions, treating children’s back-to-school irritability and insomnia with a scientific and rational attitude.
