In Singapore, psychological assessments are getting highly popular for getting practical and meditative recommendations on the basis of academic, social, behavior and emotional functioning. But, do you know there is one thing that can be equally important for your child? Stress –one of the most overlooked factors in case of children.  

Stress is something from which all of us are well-aware and familiar. In one way or another, we came across stress on a daily basis. However, when this stress starts affecting your behavior, your health, and even social life, it requires immediate attention. Psychotherapy may be the first thing that your child may need to minimize stress related problems before getting recommendations on what he/she should pursue. Remember, only a sound mind can think positively.

Your Child May Be Under Toxic Stress Too!!

Do you think that your child may experience stress? While many parents will reject the idea of a child getting stressed as childhood is considered to be a blessing and the happiest part of one’s lifetime, there is something that modern parents need to know.

Children may also feel stressed due to various reasons. For instance, the pressure of performing the best in school or some sports, peer pressure, bullying, sexual abuse, divorced parents, and violent home environment. There can be several ‘stressors’ which can be physical, emotional, environmental and theoretical. 

All you need is to detect and identify if your child is suffering from intensive stress, anxiety or depression. When we are under some stress, the fight or flight response automatically kicks in. This increases heart rate, blood pressure and sometimes causing you to lose sleep or feel like you cannot breathe. While this response may disappear after removal of the stressor, prolonged exposure to stressors may develop permanent stress. At this stage, it is referred to as toxic stress and it is as harmful and severe for children as for adults. 

Signs of Stress

Children who are suffering from toxic stress may have the following symptoms:

• Poorly developed executive functioning skills
• Lack of self-regulation
• Lack of self-reflection
• Reduced impulse control
• Poor stress management
• Maladaptive coping skills

Children who face prolonged toxic stress often have:

• More difficult learning in school
• More problems in trusting adults and forming healthy relationships
• Increased chance of divorce after becoming adults
• Higher chances of unhealthy behavior such as substance abuse, sexual experimentation, and unsafe sexual practices in teenage and/or adult years
• Higher possibility of depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorders, and behavioral disorders
• Poor health outcomes and higher suicide risk

How to Deal with Toxic Stress in Children?

The primary key to prevent and reduce toxic stress in kids is “Awareness”. Enroll your child in a psychotherapy program so that he/she can open up about his/her problems. You can easily find a good program for psychotherapy in Singapore. More and more children are benefiting from such programs. 

Once you are rest assured that your child is really recovering from toxic stress or your child is not under any kind of stress, proceeding with Psychological Assessments in Singapore can be more helpful to know more about your child. 

Psychological Testing

This testing involves a variety of assessments such as:

• Cognitive Assessment (IQ Testing)
• Academic Assessment
• Diagnostic Assessment
• Social/Emotional/Personality Assessment
• Developmental Assessment
• Neuropsychological Assessment
• Gifted Assessment

Psychological assessments are carried out for several purposes. Some of them are:

• To map out Individual Education Plans (IEPs) 
• To identify areas where a child may need further therapies such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc.
• To evaluate school readiness and placement
• To determine personality traits and emotional wellbeing
• To determine suitability for adoption, guardianship and custody

One can seek such assessments for children as young as 12 months old as well as the ones who are undergoing adolescent stage.