Countrygirl
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Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere.
I found this today under the heading 'Improving the life of people with mental illness'. It is clearly discussing children with ME, although it will no doubt include a number who do not have the illness. A number of the references refer to Mrs Wessely.
It is encouraging parents not to regard their children as being physical ill and promotes graded exercise.
If you read the whole leaflet and scroll to the bottom you will see that they are inviting comments.
I am sure a number of us can oblige. This cannot be allowed to pass without accurate input.
In my opinion, it is promoting child abuse............well done the NHS!
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvi...rentscarers/medicallyunexplainedsymptoms.aspx
MENTAL HEALTH AND GROWING UP FACTSHEET
Medically unexplained physical symptoms: information for parents, carers and anyone who works with young people
About this leaflet
This is one in a series of leaflets entitled Mental Health and Growing Up. This leaflet looks at why some young people suffer from problematic physical symptoms when there seems to be no physical cause. It also offers advice about how to recognise and manage these problems.
Introduction
What are the effects of unexplained physical symptoms?
Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) are when someone suffers from physical symptoms for which no underlying physical cause can be found.
About one in 10 children and adolescents suffer from this condition. Common symptoms are headaches, stomach aches, joint pains and tiredness. Less commonly, young people can have significant unexplained physical symptoms, including muscle weakness, collapses, ‘fit-like’ episodes, and severe and chronic pain.
What are the causes?
Physical illness or injury may be a factor at the beginning, but when no obvious physical explanation can be found, emotional or psychological factors need to be thought about.
These problems are more common in children and young people who:
A planned approach
Your GP will be able to assess your child and help decide if any specialist investigation or treatment is required. If necessary, they will refer your child to the local paediatrician or child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS),
Specialists, such as psychiatrists, can help identify the psychological factors that may be contributing to the symptoms, and can also help to distinguish unexplained physical symptoms from other mental health problems, such as depression.
Talking treatments can help you and your child to manage unexplained physical symptoms better. Medication can also play a part, particularly in treating any anxiety and depression that they may also be suffering from.
A planned approach to treat the symptoms is important. The aim of the treatment is to help your child to recover gradually by creating more effective ways of coping with the symptoms, and getting back to a normal daily routine.
Everyone needs to work together as a team towards the same goals: you, your child, the paediatrician, psychiatrist, general practitioner and school may all need to get involved.
It can be helpful for everyone involved in helping the child to meet and review their progress from time to time. This allows ideas to be shared about the best ways forward – physical, psychological and educational.
For the most severe unexplained physical symptoms, specialist help through CAMHS can be helpful in developing a planned approach to the problem.
Caring for a young person with unexplained physical symptoms can be very stressful. Family life can become dominated by your child’s difficulties. Parents will need to be caring, but also determined and positive even when things seem bleak and uncertain.
Often parents find it hard to know what to do for the best – when to encourage and when to comfort, when to insist and when to take the pressure off. You may benefit from expert help and advice about this.
Treatment is best done with active participation from the family. It will involve:
I found this today under the heading 'Improving the life of people with mental illness'. It is clearly discussing children with ME, although it will no doubt include a number who do not have the illness. A number of the references refer to Mrs Wessely.
It is encouraging parents not to regard their children as being physical ill and promotes graded exercise.
If you read the whole leaflet and scroll to the bottom you will see that they are inviting comments.
I am sure a number of us can oblige. This cannot be allowed to pass without accurate input.
In my opinion, it is promoting child abuse............well done the NHS!
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvi...rentscarers/medicallyunexplainedsymptoms.aspx
MENTAL HEALTH AND GROWING UP FACTSHEET
Medically unexplained physical symptoms: information for parents, carers and anyone who works with young people
About this leaflet
This is one in a series of leaflets entitled Mental Health and Growing Up. This leaflet looks at why some young people suffer from problematic physical symptoms when there seems to be no physical cause. It also offers advice about how to recognise and manage these problems.
Introduction
What are the effects of unexplained physical symptoms?
Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) are when someone suffers from physical symptoms for which no underlying physical cause can be found.
About one in 10 children and adolescents suffer from this condition. Common symptoms are headaches, stomach aches, joint pains and tiredness. Less commonly, young people can have significant unexplained physical symptoms, including muscle weakness, collapses, ‘fit-like’ episodes, and severe and chronic pain.
What are the causes?
Physical illness or injury may be a factor at the beginning, but when no obvious physical explanation can be found, emotional or psychological factors need to be thought about.
These problems are more common in children and young people who:
- are feeling stressed, for instance about moving schools, friendship problems or not managing school work
- are very sensitive to physical symptoms and pain
- are very sensitive to others
- have low self-esteem
- tend to be fussy or perfectionistic
- are very anxious and worry more than most
- worry continuously about the symptoms and their effects on everyday activities – this can cause the symptoms to continue, and even get worse.
A planned approach
Your GP will be able to assess your child and help decide if any specialist investigation or treatment is required. If necessary, they will refer your child to the local paediatrician or child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS),
Specialists, such as psychiatrists, can help identify the psychological factors that may be contributing to the symptoms, and can also help to distinguish unexplained physical symptoms from other mental health problems, such as depression.
Talking treatments can help you and your child to manage unexplained physical symptoms better. Medication can also play a part, particularly in treating any anxiety and depression that they may also be suffering from.
A planned approach to treat the symptoms is important. The aim of the treatment is to help your child to recover gradually by creating more effective ways of coping with the symptoms, and getting back to a normal daily routine.
Everyone needs to work together as a team towards the same goals: you, your child, the paediatrician, psychiatrist, general practitioner and school may all need to get involved.
It can be helpful for everyone involved in helping the child to meet and review their progress from time to time. This allows ideas to be shared about the best ways forward – physical, psychological and educational.
For the most severe unexplained physical symptoms, specialist help through CAMHS can be helpful in developing a planned approach to the problem.
Caring for a young person with unexplained physical symptoms can be very stressful. Family life can become dominated by your child’s difficulties. Parents will need to be caring, but also determined and positive even when things seem bleak and uncertain.
Often parents find it hard to know what to do for the best – when to encourage and when to comfort, when to insist and when to take the pressure off. You may benefit from expert help and advice about this.
Treatment is best done with active participation from the family. It will involve:
- finding ways of paying less attention to the symptoms
- a small, but steady, increase in everyday and social activities
- the young person will be encouraged to do more for themselves and to regain their confidence and independence
- asking teachers to help with looking at ways of overcoming any school or education problems.
- respond to pain and other symptoms more effectively
- increase levels of physical and social activity
- manage depression, anxiety, lack of confidence and poor motivation
- deal with family relationship difficulties when these become part of the problem.