Experts who say that the anxiety and stress experienced due to the Covid -19 pandemic increase the psychological disorders seen in children, warn families.
Stating that tic disorders increase especially during the pandemic period, experts say that frequent reminders of hand hygiene and cleaning rules lead to the onset and continuation of obsession disorder in children with a predisposition. Considering the areas of interest of the children, activities are planned and quality activities are planned with the family. zamThey recommend taking a moment.
Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Brain Hospital Child and Youth Psychiatry Specialist Assoc. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten made an assessment in order to better understand the psychology of children during the pandemic period.
Stating that children and young people are affected by the pandemic negatively, Assoc. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten emphasized that the restrictions brought by the pandemic could affect not only their present but also their future, as the growth and development of children and young people continues rapidly.
Anxiety about losing loved ones is the biggest burden
"First of all, it is one of the most important burdens of the pandemic to have the concern that the Covid-19 virus will make them and their loved ones sick and perhaps lose them," Assoc. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten continued as follows:
“To date, many children and young people have witnessed that they and their loved ones are sick due to this virus, and some of them have survived this disease, while some children and young people lost their loved ones because of this. Apart from illness and contagion anxiety, the closure of schools, their efforts to maintain their classes and friendships with online education forced them. Maintaining their academic success with online education has reduced opportunities for effective learning. Being away from their friends disrupted their socialization processes. However, when they most need movement and release their energies, zamthey were confined to their homes. It would not be difficult to say that all these negatively affect the mental health of children and young people.”
Too many screen faces
Reminding that children who continue their online education during the pandemic period, they are in front of the screen and inactive for long periods every day. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten warned that many children were in front of the screen for too long because they had to provide their needs for play, entertainment and movement at home.
Obsession disorder emerges
Explaining that the use of the screen for a long time poses a risk for some psychiatric disorders, Assoc. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, “We see that tic disorders increase especially during the pandemic period. However, frequent reminders of hand hygiene and cleaning rules to prevent the spread of the virus with the pandemic cause the onset and continuation of obsession in children with a predisposition. In the obsessive disorder seen in this period, the symptoms start and increase with the feeling of hand washing and not being able to clean. zamAt the moment, other obsessions are added besides cleaning obsessions. We can say that depression and anxiety disorders have increased especially in young people during the pandemic. Again, one of the most important psychiatric problems, excessive fondness and addiction to the internet and computer games is another problem that worries families the most.
Plan activities in areas of interest
Stating that the increase in screen use physically immobilizes children and causes excessive weight gain, Assoc. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten, on the other hand, is excessive in computer games and social media. zamHe stated that spending time reduces the interest of children in academic fields, and causes a decrease in course responsibility and work.
Assoc. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten made the following recommendations: “Families should be creative about the activities they can do with their children. Recognizing the areas that their children love and are interested in and family together zammoments, appropriate zamIt is necessary for them to do activities such as nature walks or trips together, chatting, playing board games together. While doing these, families should choose activities that they will enjoy as well as the attention of the child. Screen-restriction hours should be made for each member of the family to be included, and everyone should comply with it. Artistic and relaxing activities such as sports activities, dance, music and painting that can be done at home will support both adults and children and young people to cope with difficulties and relax.”
Quality with family now zammomentary period
Stating that when the difficult times are over, individuals will get stronger and their coping skills will improve compared to the past, Assoc. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten stated that seeing the Covid-19 pandemic period as an opportunity period and looking to the future with hope would be the right approach. To see this period as an opportunity period, Assoc. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten listed her recommendations as follows:
“In this period, we can focus on the issues that we missed or could not find time during the old daily life intensity. We can focus on areas where we think we are inadequate. Now, with the advancement of technology, it has become possible to follow many development areas over the internet. Art and sports-related activities, learning a foreign language, missing points in the lessons, and perhaps the quality we should allocate to our family, but which is interrupted due to the intensity. zamIt will be very good to try to make up for these moments in this period. It will be good for both parents and their children's mental health if they are not pessimistic but always hopeful about the future and instill this hope in their children.”
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