Dealing with mood disorders in children is hard for both kids and their parents. Such conditions can hinder a child to carry out daily activities in a normal manner leading to emotional, behavioral, and academic problems. By employing a holistic approach to pediatrics, we are in a position to provide empathetic and complete care addressing the specific needs of every child. Blossom Pediatric is here to help to understand what mood disorders are, their symptoms, and how our holistic pediatrician in NYC can treat them.

What Are Mood Disorders?

Mood disorders are psychological conditions that are characterized by disturbance in the emotional state of the person affected. In childhood these disorders are defined by a constant change in mood; which overwhelms the individual too much over a long period. Such concerns can restrict a child from effectively participating in activities such as being in school or even playing.

Common Types of Mood Disorders in Children

Depressive Disorders

Depressive Disorders in children can cause feelings of deep sadness, accompanied by hopelessness and disinterest in activities that were once pleasurable for them. Symptoms often encompass alterations in habitual sleep, eating patterns, and levels of activity and rest.

Anxiety Disorders

Among the most common mood disorders are anxiety disorders, which are characterized by excessive worry or fear. 

Bipolar Disorder

Children suffering from bipolar disorder experience mood swings that may involve depressive or high (manic) episodes. During the manic stage, children become very active with lots of energy but this stage is often accompanied by irritability or engaging in risky activities.

How to Identify Mood Disorders in Children

Mood disorders can be hard to identify especially in children as there are normal childhood behaviors and some of the symptoms tend to fall under these categories. Nevertheless, while most children tend to recover from everyday stress or emotion, some may have more persistent issues. Here are some characteristics, that should be tracked:

Emotional

Persistent feelings of sadness or worry, negative feelings and hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities once loved.

Behavioral

Getting angry at the slightest provocations, and stops interacting with peers, and defiance.

Physical

Changes in sleeping patterns - being less than a few hours (insomnia) or more than normal (excess sleep), alteration in appetite - overeating or dieting, or continuous complaints of headache or stomach ache without any clear medical reasons. 

Performance Issues

These include lack of concentration, poor academic performance, and lack of willingness to attend school.

How a Holistic Pediatrician Can Help

We at Blossom pediatrics consider not only the emotional symptoms, but also the physical and environmental aspects that may put the child at risk of having mood disturbances.

Thorough Diagnostic Assessment

Each child will experience the mood disorder differently and due to various reasons. For that reason a detailed medical history, family history, school history, and emotional health of the child are assessed. This ensures that we design the most suitable treatment approach for the child.

Targeted Treatment Options

Our integrated approach to management of mood disorders may require the use of various therapeutic methods. These include the following:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This approach helps children to learn to control their negative emotions and actions.

Play Therapy

As children cannot express difficult emotions verbally, especially younger ones, play therapy is an opportunity, which enables the child to freely express their emotions through play.

Family Therapy

We think that with the help of the family, the treatments can be more effective. By involving parents, it is our aim to guide them in ways to better address their child’s emotional needs at home.

Diet and Nutrition

We underscore the role of physical well-being in the treatment of mood disorders, paying special attention to eating patterns, exercise, and sleep.

Mind-Body Techniques

We include aspects of mind-body integration such as mindfulness, yoga and relaxation exercises to children’s treatment. Such practices help children to learn how to control their emotions as well as stress and anxiety.

The Need for Early Intervention

For mood disorders to be appropriately dealt with, it is important to have both diagnosis and treatment at the earliest stages. If these disorders are not managed, they may deteriorate over time and contribute negatively to child development. And with some early intervention, the child learns ways of coping and acquires other skills that will be helpful in overcoming emotional difficulties in the future.

Contact Us for Holistic Pediatrician in NYC

If you feel that your child could be having a mood disorder and you require assistance, feel free to visit pediatricians of Blossom Pediatric to learn more about the children's treatment that we offer. Our team of holistic pediatricians in NYC are always here to help you out.