Anxiety disorders in children

In today’s fast paced competitive world kids are subject to high levels of stress. Fear and anxiety can be common and developmentally appropriate in most children.

Some of the common problems children face range from starting a new school, fear of natural calamities, social anxiety, fear of being bullied; pressure to succeed academically to several other complicated issues. Although worrying occasionally is normal, the severity and duration of these symptoms seem to be extended in children suffering from anxiety related disorders. If anxiety related disorders are left untreated it can severely impede academic and social progress of the child.

Some red flags of anxiety related disorders commonly observed in children are (a) being overly self-conscious (b) avoidance (c) obsessions (d) low self-esteem (e) extreme fears and being constantly stressed.

Anxiety related disorders can be broadly classified into the following categories namely (a) Separation anxiety (b) Social phobia (c) Generalized anxiety disorder. (d) Obsessive-Compulsive disorder. (e) Post-Traumatic Stress disorder

Separation anxiety is a psychological phenomenon where the child experiences severe anxiety when separated from individuals who have a strong emotional bonding with it. Symptoms of separation anxiety include extreme fear leading to impairment of normal functions, nightmares, and psychosomatic disorders.

Social phobia is characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness. When kids suffer from extreme shyness and self consciousness they may dread social situations.

Generalized anxiety disorder is caused by excessive, irrational and uncontrollable worry which manifest in the form of severe physical and psychological symptoms. It is characterized by fatigue, muscle tension, irritability and feeling of dread.

Obsessive-Compulsive disorder is characterized by performing repetitive acts to alleviate anxiety caused by disturbing thoughts or impulses.

Post-Traumatic Stress disorder results in extreme anxiety following a traumatic event.

The cause of anxiety related disorders in children is primarily due to the interaction between certain biological and environmental risk factors. Genetics and parenting style are predisposing factors for developing anxiety related disorders.

Parents should seek immediate medical attention if the duration and severity of anxiety in children does not decrease.Cognitive behavioral therapy can be very effective to shape the thought process and behavioral response to treat anxiety in kids.

Psychotherapy is another form of relaxation techniques that has been found to be highly effective in shaping the kids behavioral response. If none of the above methods seem to work the parents should consult with a medical practitioner regarding use of anti-anxiety medication

Child marriage in India

Child marriage means that two children are forced to marry each other with the consent of the two families. The children are forced into the institution of marriage without knowing about its significance in the long run.

Though parents are of the opinion that they involve their children in such rituals because it is an age old custom and it will also secure the future of their children but the reality is not so. Though in some cases parents believe in such superstitions and dogmas in other cases greed is the most significant factor.
How can a girl’s future become secured if she gets married to a man who is 60 years of age while the girl herself is barely 14 or 15? Only their parent’s future will be secured with the amount of money the man and his family pay in return of the girl.
This heinous crime cannot be termed as marriage it is simply selling of the girl child. The man will molest her at a tender age and at the same time he will kiss death pretty soon. The girl will end up being so horrified with the custom of marriage that she will dare not enter the institution again. A whole future filled with frustration and anger will result thereby.
The sad news is that the institution of child marriage is still present in India in a number of villages and districts. Though the government has taken strict actions and child marriage has been declared as a big crime, still this practise is prevalent till today.
The question that arises is that what can be done to stop this hidden crime? Apart from the measures taken by the government it is essential for colleges and other institutions like non- government organizations to make certain moves. It is advisable to approach such villages and districts and educate the parents about the ill- effects of child marriage. Though it is not easy to make them understand easily but you never know that which activity or step of yours can change their minds at any point of time.
Short films, live plays can be shown to them and the moral behind these plays should obviously show the pathetic future of the kids who are forced to get married. More and more schools should be set up in such villages as a result of which people will sooner or later get their children admitted in schools. Such people should also be informed about the punishment given by the law and order of the country in an exaggerated way so that they get immensely scared even before thinking about such a crime. It is also advisable on the part of the government to take as strict actions as possible in order to abolish this institution completely.
The path is tough but victory can be achieved if strict actions are taken. College students as a part of their college campaign can visit such villages and personally talk to the mothers of children explaining the ill- effects of child marriage in the lives of their children. It is easier to make a mother explain the problems her child would face because women are soft by nature. India is a developing nation and aims to become a developed nation in the near future, but can a developed nation have brides and grooms who have not yet attained adulthood. It is impossible for India to become a developed nation if child marriage is not abolished.
Government should start an inquiry in such districts and villages and the homes where married couples under the age of 18 and 21 for a girl and a boy respectively are found, strict actions should be taken. The girl should be sent to her parent’s home and both the parents of the couple should be punished. There are places where mere words cannot change an individual’s heart. It is only strict action in the form of punishment that can alter their minds.
The sooner this institution of child marriage is abolished the better for the whole nation. It is true that the percentage of child marriage has dropped over the years but still this institution exists. All the citizens should join hands to abolish this practice to make India a better place to live in.

Women Empowerment

Empowerment of women is the key-device to enable them resurrects there status multifariously in the society and reconcile them to share virilities of the fast developing world. It had come out of the consensus arrived at the 40th Session of the UN commission on status of women in New York on March 11, 1996.

This device is significant in view of the role that the women can more effectively play in all vital areas the male factor alone is not capable of any effective and reliable performance in socioeconomic spheres and a partnership is a must throughout the world in these spheres between men and women to ensure the progress in the right direction.

Noteworthy is the fact that there exists car in between the present miserable plight of the women due to the socioeconomic inequalities that have been persistent throughout the world and the new mandates that require a decisive role of women side by side with the men folk.

The commission has warned all the member states of the UNO that the women concerns are mainstreamed to with the impact of the economic and social changes on families. Eradications of Poverty, elimination of gender prejudices discriminations, and providing equal opportunities to women to exp their views, are essential to check further drift in the socioeconomic situations in their respective countries.

The commission has stressed this is not just a formality to oblige the women folk with a view of their morale or pacify them. But it is an integral part of empowerment women that they participate in decision making at all levels in all are the critical concerns that were identified in the world women conference held in China in 1995.

By empowerment of women is meant that the conferment of power by means of law in all matters affecting gender interests, related to family well-being and socioeconomic national affairs, providing for participation in decision making in all such matters.

As a matter of all such matters that were categorically termed as 'critical concerns the women in the world women conference in Chine in 1995 were required to be mainstreamed to deal with the impact of economic and social changes on families. In eradication of poverty, counter sexism and viol in the global media.

It is not India alone where the plight of women is pitiable and status has been depleting and losing day by day, but it is an international phenomenon. Because exploitation of women in the forms of domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse, in one form or the other is equally found throughout the world, including the advanced and developed countries of the west.

And this is the main reason that the status of women their plight have grown into an international problem and a concern the Economic and Social Council of the UN.

Experts of the economy have arrived at the consensus that so eradication of poverty is concerned, it requires full and equal participation of women in decision-making at all levels for which their empowerment and autonomy are essential prerequisites.

It implies legislative administrative measures to give right to women no inheritance ownership, to credit and to natural resources and technology. It is necessitates to promote women's participation in employment and employment and ensure economic and social protection, unemployment, ill-health, maternity, child bearing, widowhood, disability and old-age.

Meanwhile in India, reservation of seats in parliament and legislatures for women is being actively pursued at the government to offer a political toast to entertain women. Many important court rulings regarding relating to harassment of women at work, maintenance of even if not legally married etc. have made the womenfolk stronger.

Many savings and insurance schemes, announced from time to time by the central government and various state governments, have helped women to become economically stronger, resulting in their better social status.

The constitutional amendment regarding reservation of one-third seats for women at the level of Panchayat has enabled one million women to participate in the decision-making process, right from the grassroots up district level.

At the international level, however, the initiatives to improve editions for the women have resulted in the creation of an international legal framework to achieve legal equality by. UN bodies are also continually striving to bring about equality by raising public awareness and by a commitment to change long-ingrained traditions and attitudes, rich prolong discriminations.