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Understanding Mental Wellness Together

At Evergreen Behavioral & Mental Healthcare, we believe that every individual deserves to live a fulfilling and balanced life. With a focus on holistic healing, our dedicated team offers a range of services designed to support mental wellness and personal growth. We create a nurturing environment where clients feel safe to explore their emotions and overcome obstacles, empowering them to achieve their personal goals. Join us on this journey to a brighter, more mindful future.

CONDITIONS WE TREAT

All children experience some fear and anxiety. There are quite a few different types of anxiety in children.

Symptoms of separation anxiety include:

Thoughts and fears about the safety of parents

Refusing to go to school or separate from their parents

Physical complaints especially on Sunday nights and Monday mornings

Worries about sleeping away from home

Trouble sleeping or nightmares

Symptoms of phobia include:

Fear about a specific thing or situation

Fear causing distress and interfering with usual activities

Symptoms of selective mutism include:

Able to speak at home, but not at school or with friends

Excessively shy

Symptoms of social anxiety include:

Fears of meeting or talking to people

Having few friends outside the family

Other symptoms of anxiety may include:

Worries about things before they happen

Repetitive, unwanted actions (compulsions) or thoughts (obsessions)

Fears of embarrassment

Lack of self-confidence and low self esteem

Helpful links:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder In Children And Adolescents

Panic Disorder In Children And Adolescents
Any child may show inattention, distractibility, impulsivity, or hyperactivity at times, but the child with ADHD shows these symptoms and behaviors more frequently and severely than other children.

A child with ADHD may show the following:

Inattention to details

Easily distracted

Trouble finishing homework

Forgets to turn in homework

Trouble paying attention

Impatience

Fidgets or squirms

Runs about or climbs excessively

Talks too much and has difficulty playing quietly

Interrupts or intrudes on others

A child presenting with ADHD symptoms should have a comprehensive evaluation. A child who is diagnosed with ADHD and treated appropriately can have a productive and successful life. Research clearly demonstrates that medication can help improve attention, focus, goal directed behavior, and organizational skills.

Click here for more information about medications used to treat ADHD.
Autism can be identified by the time a child is 30 months old. It is often discovered when parents become concerned that their child may be deaf. The child may not talk, resists cuddling, and avoids interaction with other.

Some of the early signs and symptoms of autism include:

Not responding when their name is called at a young age

No smiling by 6 months

No facial expressions by 9 months

No babbling, reaching, or waving by 12 months

No single words by 16 months

No two word phrases by 24 months

Loss of developmental milestones

Being withdrawn, aloof, and fails to respond to other people

Engaging in odd behaviors like rocking or hand flapping

Failure to speak at a later age or continually repeating words

Children with autism need a thorough and complete evaluation and specialized language services, behavioral, and educational programs. Some children with autism may also benefit from treatment with medication. There is no cure for autism, but treatment provided early in life can have a positive impact on the child's development and well-being.
Bullying is a common experience for many children and adolescents. Bullied children experience suffering that can interfere with their social and emotional development, as well as their school performance. Some victims of bullying have even attempted suicide.

If you suspect your child is bullying others it's important to seek help for him or her as soon as possible. If you suspect your child may be the victim of bullying, ask him or her to tell you what's going on. If your child becomes withdrawn, depressed or hesitant to go to school, or if you see a decline in school performance, consultation or intervention may be required. Seeking professional assistance can lessen the risk of lasting emotional consequences for your child.
Children and adolescents with this disorder have difficulty following rules and respecting the rights of others. They behave in a socially unacceptable way.

Children or adolescents with conduct disorder may exhibit some of the following behaviors:

Bullies others

Cruel and mean to others

Fights physically

Uses a weapon that could cause physical harm to others

Steals

Sexual aggression

Sets fires to cause damage

Breaking into buildings, houses, or cars

Lying

Often stays out at night

Runs away from home

Without treatment, many youngsters with conduct disorder are unable to adapt to the demands of adulthood. Behavior therapy and psychotherapy are usually necessary. Treatment may also include medication.
Children and adolescents can experience depression, and studies show that it is on the rise.  

Common symptoms of depression in children and adolescents include:

Appearing sad, tearful, or irritable

Enjoying things less

Spending less time with friends

Changes in appetite and/or weight

Sleeping more or less

Tiredness or having less energy

Feeling worthless

Trouble concentrating

Doing worse in school

Thoughts of suicide

Drug or alcohol use

There are several effective treatments for depression. Treatment may include psychotherapy and/or antidepressant medication.
Children with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) have severe and frequent temper tantrums that interfere with their ability to function. They are more likely to develop problems with depression or anxiety.

The symptoms of DMDD include:

Child must be at least six years old

Severe temper outbursts at least three times a week

Irritable, or angry mood almost every day

Symptoms are present for at least a year

Bigger reaction than expected

Functioning difficulty in more than one place (e.g., home, school, or with friends)

Treatment may include individual therapy, as well as work with the child's family and/or school. Medication may also be of benefit.
Two psychiatric eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia, are on the increase among teenage girls and young women. These disorders involve a preoccupation with food and a distortion of body image.

Symptoms and warning signs of anorexia nervosa and bulimia include the following:

A teenager with anorexia nervosa is usually female, a perfectionist, and a high achiever in school. She suffers from low self-esteem, believing she is fat regardless of how thin she becomes. She feels that she is in control when she says "no" to the normal food demands of her body. In pursuit to be thin, she starves herself.

The patient with bulimia binges on large quantities of high-caloric food and/or purges her body by self-induced vomiting, extreme exercise, or laxatives. Frequent vomiting can cause a serious threat to the patient's physical health.

Children with binge eating disorders require treatment from a mental health professional. Treatment usually requires a team approach, including individual therapy, family therapy, working with a primary care physician, working with a nutritionist, and medication. Early identification and treatment leads to more favorable outcomes.
There are many reasons for school difficulties by a child or adolescent, but a common one is a specific learning disorder. Long-range consequences of learning disorders can be lessened with early intervention. It is believed that learning disorders are caused by a difficulty with the nervous system that affects receiving, processing, or communicating information.

Signals of learning disorders include:

Difficulty understanding and following instructions

Trouble remembering

Fails to master reading, spelling, writing, and/or math skills

Difficulty telling right from left

Difficulty identifying words

Lack of coordination

Difficulty understanding the concept of time 

First step in treatment is an evaluation by an expert who can assess all of the different issues affecting the child. A therapist can coordinate an evaluation, and work with school professionals and others to determine if a learning disorder exists. Sometimes individual or family psychotherapy will be recommended. Medication may be prescribed for hyperactivity or distractibility.
Mental illnesses in parents represents a risk for children in the family. These children have a higher risk for developing mental illnesses than do other children. This risk can be due to family dynamics or can be inherited from parents. Concerns about a child’s mental well-being would indicate a need for an evaluation by a qualified mental health professional. With education and treatment, the family can learn ways to lessen the effects of the parent's mental illness on the child.
Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) exhibit an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures. This behavior interferes with the child's day to day functioning.  

Symptoms of ODD may include:

Temper tantrums

Excessive arguing with adults

Questioning rules

Defiance and refusal to comply with adult requests and rules

Attempts to annoy or upset people

Blaming others for mistakes

Easily annoyed by others

Anger and resentment

Hateful talking when upset

A child presenting with ODD symptoms should have a comprehensive evaluation.

Treatment of ODD may include:

Parent Management Training to help parents manage the child's behavior

Individual Psychotherapy

Family Psychotherapy

Cognitive Problem-Solving Skills Training and Therapies

Social Skills Training

Medications to control coexistent conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, and mood disorders
People with OCD have recurrent intense obsessions and/or compulsions that are severely painful and interfere with day-to-day functioning. The obsessions or compulsions cause significant anxiety, or interfere with normal routine, academic functioning, social activities, or relationships.

The condition is a brain disorder and tends to run in families. Most children can be treated effectively with a combination of psychotherapy and certain medications.

Resources For Families
PANS and PANDAS: Sudden Onset of OCD Symptoms
Children and adolescents with a panic disorder have unexpected and repeated times of intense fear, along with other symptoms such as a racing heartbeat or feeling short of breath. These periods are called "panic attacks" and last minutes to hours.

Symptoms of a panic attack include:

Intense fearfulness

Racing or pounding heartbeat

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Shortness of breath

Trembling or shaking

Fear of dying, losing control, or losing your mind

Specific medications may stop panic attacks. Psychotherapy may also help the child and family learn ways to reduce stress that could cause a panic attack.

For more information about panic disorder, visit the National Institute of Mental Health's website at www.nimh.nih.gov or call 1-800-64-PANIC.
A child or adolescent who experiences a catastrophic event, or series of such events. may develop ongoing difficulties known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A child with PTSD may also re-experience the traumatic event by:

Having frequent memories of the event

Having frightening dreams

Feeling like the experience is happening again

Children with PTSD may show the following symptoms:

Worry about dying young

Losing interest in activities

Having headaches and stomach aches

Showing sudden and extreme emotional reactions

Having problems falling or staying asleep

Showing irritability

Having problems concentrating

Acting younger than their age

Showing increased vigilance

Early intervention is essential. Emphasis needs to be placed upon establishing a feeling of safety. Psychotherapy (individual, group, or family) is helpful. Medication may also be useful to deal with agitation, anxiety, or depression.
For additional information see:

NCTSN Fact Sheet - Dissociation and PTSD: What Parents Should Know (pdf)
NCTSN - Dissociation and PTSD: What Providers Should Know
Sleep is important for mental, physical, and overall health. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the amount of sleep needed varies by age:

Many children have sleep problems. Examples include:

Problems falling asleep or staying asleep

Feeling sleepy during the day

Nightmares or night terrors

Bedwetting

Teeth grinding and clenching

Snoring

Sleepwalking or talking during sleep

Sleeping during the day and staying awake at night (sleep-wake reversal)

Regular bedtime and sleep routines for children, such as reading stories and teeth-brushing, can be helpful. A way to help a child with nightmares is to help the child know before bedtime that dreams are not real.

Some children have sleep terrors which are different from nightmares. Children with sleep terrors will scream uncontrollably and appear to be awake but are confused and cannot respond. Sometimes a sleep specialist can help with sleep terrors.

Sleep-wake reversal, meaning someone is awake in the night and asleep during daytime hours, is common in teens. Behavioral changes can help improve a teen’s ability to fall asleep and wake up at appropriate times.

Here are some recommendations to support a restful sleep plan:

Planned bedtime and wake up times

No exercise within 3 to 4 hours of bedtime.

No caffeinated drink within 6 hours of bedtime

No use of electronics (computer, tablet, smartphone, etc.) within 1 hour of bedtime

Keep the bedroom quiet, cool, and dark at night

Have child wake up at a regular time each day

No naps during the day

For a comprehensive review and assessment of sleep problems and available treatments, please refer to the AACAP Sleep Disorders: Parents’ Medication Guide