Your Adolescent by David Pruitt M.D

Author:David Pruitt, M.D.
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780061757914
Publisher: HarperCollins

• HOW TO RESPOND

Pain is subjective regardless of the cause. A toothache that one person finds debilitating is a nagging distraction to someone else. The perception of pain depends on a variety of factors, including an individual’s experience, physiology, and psychological state.

The expression of and reaction to pain vary with the age of the child. Infants and toddlers are likely to react strongly to pain by crying and physical gestures. As a child grows older, she may cope differently. For example, the child may tolerate an injection because she is able to understand the idea that short-term discomfort may have long-term benefits. She may also have more experiences and coping skills (such as the ability to distract herself). By adolescence, however, a mature understanding of pain and its significance is usually present. Even so, new and unfamiliar discomforts such as the periodic cramping of menstruation initially can overwhelm an adolescent. Given time, experience, and support, the exaggerated response to the symptoms may lessen or even disappear.

Before concluding your adolescent’s pain or other symptoms arise from changes triggered by emotional and psychological causes, consult your adolescent’s physician to attempt to rule out possible organic, physical explanations.

If your child has menstrual, gastrointestinal, neurologic, or other physical complaints of unidentifiable cause, especially if the discomforts are interfering with the teen’s ability to perform in school or to function socially, attempt to identify potential causes of emotional or psychological distress.

Among them may be academic pressures; a recent change in school; a move to a new neighborhood; grieving over the death or illness of a friend or family member; difficulty in adapting to the physical and emotional changes of adolescence; or physical or sexual abuse. There are many sources of stress for teenagers. Are there problems in the home between the parents or with a sibling? Have there been other recent changes in the adolescent’s life?

Prescription and over-the-counter medications may have side effects even when used as directed. If your adolescent is taking medication daily and develops unexplained physical symptoms, check with your family physician to determine whether the cause could be side effects from the prescribed drug.

Abuse of medications is another potential cause of physical complaints. Alcohol abuse, the inappropriate use of toxic household chemicals (such as glue, aerosols, or gasoline for sniffing), or illicit drug use may be causing emotional and behavioral problems.

If your daughter’s stomach problems frequently involve vomiting with no organic cause, discuss her eating patterns. Such symptoms may indicate an eating disorder.

Does the adolescent have trouble sleeping? If the complaints are accompanied by a recent change in eating habits or a sudden disinterest in friends or activities she previously enjoyed, the teenager may be depressed. Teens who have sleeping problems may try to self-medicate with alcohol.

If you can find no explanation or the symptoms worsen, have your adolescent evaluated by her physician to rule out any physical cause. The doctor may decide to refer you to a child and adolescent psychiatrist to help determine the cause and appropriate course of treatment.

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