Other Disorders
Anger issues, bereavement, and phobias are all examples of problems that young people may face. At Oaktree Connect, we can assess and treat these issues with expert psychologists.
Anger and Aggression
Anger is one of the primary and natural emotions. Anger is useful in situations where we may feel threatened or afraid and it can help us to survive then. Anger can become a problem when it is persistent, not expressed or dealt with properly. If a young person’s anger is not expressed, this can lead to bottled up emotions and then expression through disruptive behaviour or “acting out”. Anger is especially an issue if the behaviour becomes aggressive and causes harm to themselves, and others or stops the young person from enjoying their school and home life.
- UK: Almost a third of people polled (32%) say they have a close friend or family member who has trouble controlling their anger (Boiling Point Report, 2008).
- UK: More than one in four people (28%) say that they worry about how angry they sometimes feel.
Reasons for Anger
- Problems within friendships
- Being bullied
- Unable to express themselves properly
- Difficulty with schoolwork
- Issues at home, such as witnessing family members arguing
- Loss or bereavement
- Feeling stressed or anxious about something
- Hormonal changes during puberty
It is important to remember that children and adolescents feel anger in the same way and for similar reasons to adults. Sometimes it may not be clear as to why a child is feeling angry, therefore, in these situations it is important to support the young person in dealing with their emotion. This may involve providing a safe space for expression and allowing the individual to explore and express their feelings in a constructive way.
Support
Although anger can be distressing and an unpleasant emotion, there are many ways a young person can be supported to help alleviate the feeling.
- Listen to the young person’s issues and find a resolution
- Help the child or adolescent spot the signs of anger and recognise the emotion before they react
- Speak to your GP if the child is at risk of harming themselves and/or others
- CBT Therapy
- Anger and Behavioural Management
Bereavement
Bereavement refers to experiencing a loss of a loved one such as a family member or a friend. This is often very difficult to deal with for young people, especially when they have difficulties in recognising and expressing the different emotions they feel. Children may experience bereavement as a time of shock, confusion and overwhelming sadness. This is a gradual process and it takes time to adjust to the loss.
It can be emotionally devastating and affects individuals in different ways. The emotions they feel, the way they feel them, and the time to recover from this form of personal loss varies with circumstances, their personality and the support they receive.
Bereavement may include the following:
Denial
Shock
Confusion
Anger
Worry
Sadness
Exhaustion
Acceptance
When to seek professional help
- Feeling low and intense sadness for more than two weeks
- Sleeping issues
- Loss of appetite
- Suicidal thoughts
- Withdrawal from interactions with closed ones and leisure activities
- Refusal to attend school
Although the majority of children and adolescents who are grieving do not require mental health support, but bereavement counselling may be beneficial. There can be times where other specialist help may be required.
Support
- Help the child explore their emotions, and provide a space for them to express how they are feeling (without pressure)
- Help the child to make sense of what has happened by speaking to them openly and honestly
- Speak to your GP if the child is at risk of harming themselves and/or others or other signs discussed above are noted
- CBT Therapy
Anger and Aggression
A phobia refers to an overwhelming and extreme fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or an animal. These are common in children but can be outgrown. A phobia can unleash feelings of anxiety and distress and often develops when an individual has an unrealistic sense of danger towards their feared situation or object. This leads to avoiding the feared situation or object. If a phobia becomes very severe, it impacts the daily life of an individual; they are more likely to restrict themselves, which in turn can causes distress and inability to function to an optimal level.
Young people and adults develop fears and anxieties from their own thinking. A very common phobia which can develop through irrational thoughts is social anxiety/phobia. It is a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations and is more than shyness. It’s a problem that often presents during teenage years and continue later into life. It is distressing, affects everyday activities, self-confidence, relationships and work or school life. We are here to provide a mental health assessment to diagnose and support young people.
When to seek professional help
- Unsteadiness, dizziness and light headedness
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Increased heart rate or palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Trembling or shaking
- An upset stomach
- Crying
- Avoidance of objects and places
When phobias get out of control and you start to exhibit avoidance behaviours, restricting work or enjoyment, professional intervention would be recommended.
Support
Psychological therapies:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Exposure therapy or Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT)
- Mindfulness based therapy
Oaktree Assessment Tool
Our Oaktree assessment tool (OAT) can help you decide whether to seek diagnosis and medical treatment from a Psychiatrist online, to seek talking therapy, or if self-help may suffice. It is not a diagnostic test.
Contact Us
To book an online mental health assessment appointment with Private Psychiatrists, Private Psychologists and Private TherapistsWe aim to respond within one working day