Teach your child to survive injury

How do you recognize when trauma is life-threatening to your child? What becomes the breaking point in a child or young adult and how can it be helped? The small disappointments typical of an adult can become a reason for attempted suicide in a child over eight years of age and, above all, in an adolescent. Acne, a broken heart, the loss of a grandparent, parent or friend, exclusion from the team, failed SATs, a drug bust or arrest are so traumatic for a young person that parents should pay close attention.

Stress is a generalized pressure on your body that is like running an engine without rest. Eventually the weakest spot will start to fail. As the body’s production of hormones, brain chemicals, and metabolism are affected, so is the thought process. A child, who has far less experience and insight to see stress and disappointment as a transient part of life, may ruminate and obsess endlessly. Right before his eyes, they may already be on their way to mental illness because they refuse to eat mandatory mental health foods like vegetables and fruits, or to rest their minds by sleeping 8-10 hours a night. Add concern or shock to this combination and you can get a really stinky thought. Add drugs or alcohol to further depress them and suicide seems like an option in a child who would never have thought of it before.

Children and adolescents often believe that they must find a solution to their problems right away, not realizing that time often heals most pain. A boy will try to reduce the pain he feels and will soon become the most important target of hers. With their limited life experience, they cannot conceive of an end to their grievance or know that they will soon recover.

If your child takes a life hit, assume the worst and act as if you feel like giving up and not living another moment. He tries to listen to all the drama from him without escalating emotionally. They need a constant helper, not extra harsh treatment, fear, or hysteria. This is the wrong time to scold, “He takes your hits like a man!” as your father told you. Instead, take care of them and take them out for ice cream, even if they are 24 years old. Spend a lot of time with them, even take a sick day off to go fishing or shopping. Your constant companionship will help them gain the necessary perspective that life goes on even after heartbreak, rejection, or failure.

Until you die, there is always another chance to be who you want to be, find the right one, or make up for past mistakes. Life is never a waste. Teach your son to value her life and promise him a chance in the future to make up for his loss. Whatever affected and hurt them today could be bad enough to kill them, even if you think it’s a small problem. You must take them seriously. Some kids keep it all to themselves. The less they talk and act like it’s no big deal, the more likely they are faking it and feeling very different inside. If you feel scared for them, take them to a great professional therapist who can teach them how to survive the ups and downs of life. Above all, your job as a good parent is to show them some love and respect for their pain right now, rather than later.