Emotional disorders are caused by a person’s inability to manage their emotions normally, often combined with behavioral disorders. Causes include genetics, brain irregularities, and external factors. Disorders can be internalized or externalized, and diagnosis is based on the DSM-IV manual. Early treatment is crucial for a child’s education and social connections.
Emotional disorder refers to a spectrum of psychological or mental disorders caused by a person’s inability to understand and manage their emotions in a normal way. For example, one child may be very violent, while another child may be severely socially aloof. Emotional disorders are usually combined with behavioral disorders, as behavior is often the expression of a certain emotion. These can be classified as emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). Emotional disturbance is often applied to school-age children, as the disturbances are usually observed and diagnosed in a social setting such as the classroom.
In general, many experts identify three factors that can cause an emotional disorder, one of which is the genes passed on to the child from parents and grandparents. Several studies have shown that the presence of certain genes can result in a disorder or traits that are more likely to develop into a disorder. Another factor would be the neurological aspect, or the brain. Many psychologists believe that people with EBD have certain irregularities in the brain where neurotransmitters are unable to send and receive hormones that regulate emotions. Another cause could be external factors, such as the child’s environment, traumatic situations and parental influences that may influence the child’s emotional management.
An emotional disturbance can be classified as internalized or externalized. A child who has internalization disorder tends to repress his emotions and withdraw. He is more likely to be distant, have trouble making friends, and not interested in school or social activities. Some internalizing disorders include clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, selective mutism, and some types of anxiety disorders such as avoidant disorder.
Externalizing emotional disorder, on the other hand, is seen when a child is extremely outgoing and loud. The child often throws tantrums and tends to be violent. Unlike an internalizing disorder, an externalizing disorder causes a child to release their emotions instead of containing them. Some externalizing disorders are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder.
Many psychologists and psychiatrists refer to a manual called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Revised Edition (DSM-IV) to diagnose whether or not a child has EBD. If your child is officially diagnosed using the DSM-IV, his or her emotional disorder treatment may be covered by insurance or the government. It is imperative that your child receives treatment as soon as possible, because a long-lasting disorder can severely affect his or her education, learning ability, and ability to make social connections.
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