Ask A Doctor - Psychology

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Q.
Please comment on ways to help children relieve stress during tests. With all the New York State requirements I’m worried my teenager will not do well because of the stress level.
A.
Your question indicates that parents also often have stress about how well their children perform on tests. It is important not to convey your anxiety to your child by making it seem that any one grade or test result is a make or break point in his or her life. Some anxiety about tests can be a good thing because it can serve as a motivator to do the pre-test work that will make your child become a good test taker. The best way to approach a test is by looking at it as part of the learning process. Weeks and months are usually spent by classroom teachers preparing their students for the Regents Exams. A child who has worked to the best of his ability all along ie, attended class, done his homework in an organized, purposeful and comprehensive way will have more confidence as the test approaches. Working on Regent’s preparatory books and taking sample tests will also be helpful. Hard work and good preparation are the best defense against test-taking anxiety. Then, when the test is presented to your child he must remind himself not to panic, take a moment to look the test over, understand the directions, breathe slowly and remember that he has worked hard and is now well prepared.

Q.
her out of taking any medications as she does not believe in doctors or medication. She now refuses to see her doctors and I am having great difficulty in coping with her wild mood swings & neglect of our children. I would appreciate your assistance.
A.
People may find the side effects of their medication intolerable or, they may discontinue taking medications as soon as they start to feel better. They might not be convinced that they have bi-polar disorder, believing that it is someone else’s fault that they are so unhappy and angry. Many people believe that it is a weakness to need medication or that there will be long term harmful physical consequences to taking the medications. Treatment of bi-polar disorder must address all of these issues in the initial stages of the diagnosis in order to insure better compliance. Treatment of bi-polar disorder with medication (usually lithium carbonate) is 80% successful and can return the person with the diagnosis to a normal life. Medication alone is not the answer, however, for people with bi-polar disorder. Treatment should also include learning new coping skills and finding out ways to predict their mood swings and what triggers them. Also, spouses, parents ( in the case of children with the disorder) and other key family members might be brought into a patients’ therapy sessions to insure that a consistent and accurate amount of information is provided and to allow the patient to work out with them ways for the family to help. This allows everyone to be on the same page and thus more skilled in efforts to support the patient. Regular and frequent psychotherapy sessions increase the compliance rate in people with the disorder once they have formed a trusting relationship with their therapist. Untreated, bi-polar disorder is a roller-coaster ride for the person with it and for their family. It is the responsibility of anyone who is given this diagnosis to take it seriously and learn as much as they can about it so that they can prevent the often disastrous consequences of the disorder for themselves and their loved ones.