Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 2020)
16 Wednesday, January 29, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Emotional and mental wellness in kids: Should I be concerned? By Charlie Kanzig Correspondent As a long-time (now retired) school counselor I was often asked by parents: <Is this normal?= <Should I be worried?= In answer, I would often run through a basic checklist of what they were experiencing with their child to see if any notable <red flags= were waving. With anxiety and depression being reported among young people at a higher rate than ever, it is very important to help par- ents understand what to look for when it comes to their children9s emotional/mental/behavioral health. Mental health concerns in children tend to make parents feel scared and helpless. Let9s face it, a broken arm or a case of acne is much more easy to diag- nose and treat than a mood disor- der or attention deficit disorder. Common mental health dis- orders in youth can include, but are not limited to: anxiety disor- ders, attention deficit/hyperac- tivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), eating disorders, mood disorders (e.g. depression or bipolar disorder), and even schizophrenia. Warning signs for these and other issues may include: • Noticeable drop in school performance. • Mood swings that persist over time and affect relationships. • Ongoing agitation and combativeness. • Difficulty concentrating and/or inability to sit still. • Acts or thoughts of self-harm, including cutting, suicidal comments/thoughts. • Significant weight loss or gain. • Sleeping issues — too much or too little. • Withdrawal from friends and family. • No longer involved in activities such as sports, youth group, or co-curriculars. • Extreme levels of risky behavior. • Use of marijuana, alcohol, or other drugs (which can exacerbate other conditions). Many young people might exhibit one or more of these warning signs for short periods of time. It9s when the issue persists and the young per- son is struggling to perform routine tasks (school, physical fitness, family time, social situations) that parents should definitely intervene. The first step for parents is check- ing in with your child to see if they can communicate how they are feel- ing and how they perceive they are doing. Kids don9t understand what9s normal or not, but they can tell you some basic facts: <I am not sleeping well.= <My stomach hurts all the time when I am at school around other people. <I feel sad all the time.= <I keep getting in trouble at school for being out of my seat.= <My mind wanders all the time.= Assure your child that it9s your job as a parent to make sure they are as healthy and well as possible and that you are going to support them. Kids who are struggling often behave in ways that result in negative con- sequences which then can make rela- tionships between them and their par- ents challenging. Next steps for parents can be to check in with others who observe your children on a regular basis, including teachers, school counsel- ors, and coaches. See if they have any concerns or have noticed changes, (e.g. poor attendance, lack of par- ticipation in class, lack of focus, disruptive behavior, sleepiness, low grades). If concerns rise to the point of needing outside help, school counsel- ors may be able to help make a refer- ral to a professional, which might be the student9s pediatrician. Some con- ditions are truly medical in nature, so it makes sense to get an examination from a medical practitioner. Based on the results, the doctor may rec- ommend other resources, including referrals to a counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist. These specialists can provide feedback and care to help the student through identifying root causes, teaching coping skills and, in some cases, prescribing and monitor- ing medication. It is a serious decision to have a young person begin on medication for emotional/mental health. Parents are encouraged to get comprehensive information about the drug, its poten- tial side effects, and planned duration of its use. Sometimes young people wind up <self-medicating.= A teenager with anxiety might get introduced to pot and discover it takes the edge off, and before long they are a daily user. If parents believe their child is using marijuana or other drugs, but aren9t sure, drug testing kits are available High Lakes Health Care Walk-In & Same-Day Appointments 541-549-9609 | 354 W. Adams Ave., Sisters Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed for lunch from Noon to 1 p.m. daily Lab Hours by Appt., Monday 8 a.m. to Noon highlakeshealthcare.com/locations/sisters High Lakes Health Care is dedicated to provid- ing people in Sisters quality care when they need it. With new renovations at the clinic at 354 W. Adams Ave., and a full dedicated staff, they are able to offer walk-in care and same-day appointments. Their board-certified family doctors provide pri- mary care and urgent care to patients of all ages in Sisters. High Lakes Health Care is focused on pro- viding comprehensive patient-centered, primary care. Doctors Kevin and Eden Miller and David Kirkpatrick, PA-C, take the time to listen and get to know you, your medical history, and your health goals moving forward. The primary care physicians develop a personalized treatment plan specifically tailored to your needs and goals. Whether the issue is minor or major, acute, or chronic, High Lakes Health Care takes your health concerns seriously. With a commitment to acces- sible services when you need them, High Lakes Health Care puts patients first. Advantage Dental Since she moved here in October, Dr. Kaitlyn Traynor has been serving patients in Sisters at Advantage Dental. Advantage Dental serves people of all ages in the Sisters community — from the very young to the elderly. Dr. Traynor sees about 20 of those patients each day, cov- ering all aspects of dental work, including bridges, fillings and dentures. They have a full-time hygienist to conduct cleanings. Dr. Traynor’s approach to her practice is to listen to her patients to really ascertain their needs and to treat each patient individually. For her, dental practice is about much more than technical skills. She is a strong believer in education and preventative measures that the patient can undertake to promote their own health. Dr. Traynor brings broad experience to her Sisters practice, having seen a variety of oral pathologies and poor oral health — which helps her to be a well-rounded dentist who can solve problems and help prevent them from developing in the first place.