Why is loneliness hard to diagnose in kids?
Twelve-year-old Josh and his mom had accomplished a lot during seven sessions of therapy. He was getting along better with his little sister, and his interactions with his mom were more positive.
It wasn’t until I discussed terminating therapy that Josh finally told me how lonely he felt, which had never come up during our meetings.
While Josh had many acquaintances, he didn’t have any close friends. While superficially pleasant and outgoing, he was fearful of saying what he really felt and thought. If people knew the real Josh, he felt he would be ridiculed and rejected. He was living a dual life. His external behavior was ordinary and acceptable. His inner world was solitary and disengaged.
He cried in my office for about 10 minutes, and then profusely apologized for using so many tissues. He quickly retreated to his pretend world and reassured me that he was doing fine.
Loneliness is hard to diagnose in kids, and often can be mistaken for other conditions.
Loneliness is not depression. Kids who are depressed generally have little energy and experience no enjoyment in most activities. Loneliness is also different from being introspective … Read More... “4 Ways to Identify a Lonely Child”