Many caregivers deal with stubborn children each day. If
care is not taken, the manner in which they handle the situation may further
worsen their mental state. This is so especially as violent behaviour in
teenagers may be due to a number of mental illnesses.
For instance, when young persons abuse psychoactive drugs,
it may alter their behavioural pattern in a way that could get them aggressive.
The action could as well impair their judgment. An example, when they hear
voices of unseen individuals in clear consciousness commanding them or
instructing them to carry out orders that are inconsistent with what is
expected.
Those who smoke marijuana usually experience a form of
perceptual disturbance where significant others appear very small and
miniature. This may be associated with undue suspicion that if contested may
come out as aggressive behaviour.
The observation of stubbornness could have been when the
illness started. Another possible illness may be due to a particular mood
disorder known as mania. It is characterised by undue elation, need for more
activity than usual, decreased need of sleep associated with behaviours and
lack discretion socially with possibility of sexual misbehaviour.
Such patients often hold beliefs that are grandiose about
them and detest challenge. They have tendency to dominate their social
space and may hijack leadership of their groups. Some folks may initially find
them companionable but stubborn in social situations. They are usually very
good talkers and can be very expansive.
Ideas rush through their minds in torrents but not
practicable as they may take irrational decisions that could jeopardise their
future and those related to them. The observation of stubbornness comes from
their relatives who have observed them for a while.
They get violent at any attempt made to caution or reprimand
them. They also infringe on the right of others in the process. The undue
irritability may mask some other manifestations.
Another possibility could be an existence of a growth in a
particular section of the brain known as the frontal lobe, which could distort
their personality and impair their judgment. This also may impair social
functionality that could come out as stubbornness in social interactions. There
are also forms of mental illness that family members often misinterpret as
stubbornness.
Parents and guardians need to have a high level of suspicion
when they discover that the behaviour of their wards has changed suddenly over
time, not traceable to any major adverse occurrence or physical illness. Many
parents actually can pinpoint certain trends when they notice the change but
most times rationalise them as growing up even when they know that the
behaviour is abnormal and not consistent with how their wards have been
behaving before.
Some parents may resort to spiritual intervention,
especially when some cultural and religious factors are implicated, which may
explain why a few parents seek consultation with mental health experts when
dealing with a stubborn child.
Beyond the reports that teachers bring concerning our wards,
we need to be vigilant and interrogate sudden changes in our kids’ behaviour,
observing them keenly and looking out for clues in their environment in order
to seek profound help.
The stubborn attitude has also been the reason for many
marital difficulties and marriage counsellors labour with couples by employing
different strategies when in reality, mental illness is the underlying cause of
the challenges.
Some individuals have lost their folks when relatives refuse
to take certain abnormal changes in the behaviour of their loved ones seriously
and fail to consult mental health professionals for help.
Another major obstacle in this kind of situation is the
difficulty in taking such individuals for consultation, especially when they
become very aggressive.
Certain individuals employ the services of security agents,
such as the police, civil defence cadets, who can professionally help to bring
the victims to the health centre. However, the golden rule to follow in this
condition is to hold the hands of the patient. That method would make the
patient manageable in such a way that he/she can see the psychiatrist.
This may be difficult for very close relatives, who may have
strong emotions for the patient and may not want to be involved. But,
neighbours preferably men can easily immobilise the patient and get him/her for
consultation.
We should avoid conversations that can aggravate an already
irritable patient and arguments as plans to take them for consultation gets
underway. We should always avoid using ropes to tie their hands and legs like
animals, which may result in a permanent deformity. This may introduce another
form of complication.
Beatings can lead to medical complications that could cause
the death of the patient apart from the mental illness.
Adeoye Oyewole, Consultant Psychiatrist, adeoyewole2000@yahoo.com
0 Comments