When children suddenly have aggressive behavior such as beating friends, biting, screaming, being angry or disobeying, the common reaction of adults is to scold and tighten discipline. Many parents think that their children are spoiled or have only gone through a difficult period. However, according to experts, not all violent behavior in children originates from emotions or parenting. In many cases, physical and mental health play an important role but are easily overlooked.
Dr. Shivi Kataria, a psychiatric counselor at CK Birla Hospital (Jaipur, India) said that many children are assessed as immature or violent while in reality they are experiencing health problems that have not been detected in time.
Children's brains are developing and heavily dependent on nutrition, hormones and the nervous system. When the body is imbalanced, changes in behavior may appear early. Lack of iron, vitamin D or vitamin B12 can make children tired, reduced concentration, irritable and difficult to control emotions, thereby easily exaggerating negative behaviors.
In addition, mild hormone or neurological disorders can also affect behavioral control. Some mild forms of epilepsy that have not been diagnosed can cause mood swings and excessive emotional responses.
In addition, many children who are considered violent are actually living with neurological developmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder but have not been detected. Children with ADHD may have aggressive behavior due to impulsiveness, while autistic children are prone to strong reactions when overloaded or when the environment changes suddenly. Failure to diagnose early causes children to be frequently punished, increasing psychological stress and causing negative behaviors to repeat many times.
According to experts, setting limits is necessary, but simple discipline cannot solve problems originating from health. If the real cause is not addressed, aggressive behavior can be prolonged and become more serious. Dr. Kataria recommends that children with prolonged or sudden violent behavior need to be comprehensively assessed, including physical health check-ups, nutritional tests, neurological screening, developmental and psychological assessment when necessary.
When the cause is detected promptly, appropriate nutritional adjustment, medical treatment and psychological support can help children stabilize their emotions, reduce aggressive behavior and develop better. According to Dr. Kataria, treating the cause correctly not only helps improve behavior but also improves mental health and brings long-term benefits to children's development.
