These are three phone calls that I received in one week:

(Steven)
“The school principal just called and said our son Steven, a fourth grader, was overheard talking with some friends about bringing a knife to school. He has a history of misbehavior, but recently he has gotten worse. He has been fighting a lot, not following rules, talking back, leaving the classroom without permission, and now this. I’m freaking out. When can we see you?”

(Jessica)
“Our fourteen-year-old daughter, Jessica, has been sad since her grandma died six months ago. She’s been withdrawn, sleeping a lot, and hardly eats. At first we sympathized with her and gave her space. But this morning I looked in her diary and read a note in which she talked about yearning to be dead and join her grandma in heaven. I think this is much worse than just grieving. What should we do?”

(Marty)
“Marty, our eleven-year-old son, has always been shy. Ever since we can remember, he was scared to do anything new. We would have to accompany him everywhere — school, camp, after school activities, and the like. He could never go on a play date without great fear. He never made close friends. But now he is beginning to act really strange. He talks to himself, he is over-involved on strange websites, he smiles about things we can’t understand, and yesterday said something about being connected to other people through mind reading. I read something about psychosis on the Internet and he seems to fit the bill. I’m terrified something really serious is wrong with him.”

I get calls like these almost every day.  Realizing that your child may have a problem is really scary. It can be devastating to learn that your child is physically sick, but discovering that your child suffers from a mental disorder adds another layer of confusion and anxiety. Mental disorders are not as well understood as physical disorders, and it is only recently that they have begun to be talked about openly. Add the fact that new diagnoses come up seemingly weekly, along with all the misinformation in the media about the medications used to treat mental disorders, and you have some very confused and worried parents. Through my blog I want to address your questions, fears, and worries about treating your child.  I want you to ask me questions and I want to hear your concerns.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychiatric advice for individual conditions or treatment and does not substitute for a medical or psychiatric examination. A psychiatrist must make a determination about any treatment or prescription. Dr. Paul does not assume any responsibility or risk for the use of any information contained within this blog.