Chad presents with the symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety. The parents’ frequent fighting and discussion of separation align with the son’s onset of changes in his mood and activity. Chad expresses hopelessness about the future; he does not have a good sleeping schedule and experiences both insomnia and excessive sleeping during the day. Parents’ inability to agree on how to approach Chad’s psychological wellbeing can be viewed as perpetuating his anxiety.
Nevertheless, Chad has a support system, as both parents are present in his life, and they care about his health and mental wellbeing. Moreover, he appears to have a good foundation in education, being an honors student. During the last year, the conflicts in the family were likely visible to Chad, which led to anxiety – a common outcome of parental divorce on children (Cabral & Patel, 2020). It is possible that his emotional response to the end of the parent’s marriage was projected onto thoughts about the end of the world, leading to depressive views of the future (Elmore & Crouch, 2020). Several factors may explain Chad’s symptoms of anxiety and depression. First, George and Carol report frequent fights and emotional distance from each other, which could psychologically damage the adolescent (Elmore & Crouch, 2020). Second, Chad does not have many friends to share his emotions with, and he engages in rumination, showing a maladaptive pattern of negative thinking.
The treatment for Chad needs to focus on creating a supportive and empathetic environment and relationship where the adolescent can discuss his emotions. Mindfulness and emotional resilience are among the skills that Chad can develop to overcome his symptoms (Esmaeilian et al., 2018). Moreover, it is vital to reach out to the child’s parents and establish a connection for an open conversation if the family is willing to participate. Overall, the outcome of therapy with Chad can be positive if his family’s support and his previous academic achievements are used to his advantage.
References
Cabral, M. D., & Patel, D. R. (2020). Risk factors and prevention strategies for anxiety disorders in childhood and adolescence. Anxiety Disorders, 1191, 543-559.
Elmore, A. L., & Crouch, E. (2020). The association of adverse childhood experiences with anxiety and depression for children and youth, 8 to 17 years of age. Academic Pediatrics, 20(5), 600-608.
Esmaeilian, N., Dehghani, M., Dehghani, Z., & Lee, J. (2018). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy enhances emotional resiliency in children with divorced parents. Mindfulness, 9(4), 1052-1062.