Understanding Children and Their Problems (An Old and Rare Book)

MANY THINGS IN LIFE just happen by chance, coincidence or destiny. I had set up private practice in Bombay and was doing very well. Suddenly we started having family problems, my father-in-law passed away at a young age and my mother-in-law was diagnosed in her last stages of malignancy. My husband had just taken up a new assignment for which he was travelling extensively, so I was left with the option of closing my practice which was doing very well at that time and travelling up and down.

At this time I used to attend Dr. A. S. Godbole's medical outdoor clinic at Nanavati Hospital. Here I happened to meet Dr. S. C. Sheth and told him my difficulty in closing and opening my practice frequently. I have always looked up to Dr. S. C. Sheth for advice on my career, and he has been a major guide at every step. He suggested I join the Jamnabai Narsee school clinic as my children were also in the same school, and I could adjust travelling with them during their holidays, till my family problems were sorted out and I could revert to my practice.

I started working at the clinic five days a week. We did routine health checks and gave medical advice to our school children who came for consultation. Many of them complained of headache, nausea, vomiting or stomachache. I realised that the majority of these problems were psychosomatic in origin and on meeting leading psychiatrist Dr. Ashit Sheth I expressed this. I had gone zealously into identifying the problems of the children but without formal training in psychiatry I wasn't sure if I was on the right track. In spite of his heavy practice, Dr. Ashit Sheth gave time and encouragement by putting me on to his Clinical Psychologist Mrs. Anupama Kapoor. For the first few years she went through all my work critically and gave suggestions wherever required. I am very thankful to her for the initial time and encouragement she gave me. Thus I was able to get the training which I wanted for my work.

After identifying the problems I went on to finding ways of correcting them. I was keen to use homeopathy and Bach flower remedies since I had already successfully treated patients in my clinic with them. Here again, as mentioned in Acknowledgements, Dr. Anil Bhatia was kind enough to guide me, and at the end of the year evaluate all my cases. Also, the Late Shri Chaturbhuj Narsee took the bold step of allowing me to introduce Homeopathy in the school clinic and take deeply to the subject of Child Psychiatry. Because of his foresight and broad vision and the free hand I was given to deal with the problems, all this work was possible.

This book is based entirely on my extensive practical experience in the field of Child Psychiatry with reference to no text book. Hence stammering which is also a psychosomatic problem, has not been included as there were not many cases to compile a data on.

At this time I also had occasion to participate in seminars and workshops conducted by various school counselling units in Northern India. I soon realised that the problems everywhere were similar though with some variations. This interaction gave me further insights and the encouragement from interested parties to compile my observations in book form.

My husband, my two sons and my parents have been another major source of encouragement. My elder son who is a very mature person has been like a good friend, guide and confidant at every step. My younger son in his own special warm way has given me the required mental and physical ease during the odd hours I have been writing this book.

Since so many people have been responsible in the final outcome of this book, I hope my humble attempt at it will help readers to understand their children and their problems and tap their potential to the maximum.

The scientific aspect of religion and social patterns is mostly based on the Hindu religion and philosophy since I grew up in that atmosphere and that was what I could interpret. It is upto every person to try to scientifically analyse his own religion.

TO ENSURE GOOD PHYSICAL HEALTH it is very important to have a healthy mind along with a healthy body. An unhealthy mind leads to ultimate manifestation of physical illnesses such as headache, skin allergies, nausea, and vomiting, stomach-ache, hyperacidity, ulcers in the stomach, asthma, hypertension, diabetes, heart attacks and anaphylactic reaction.

These are known as psychosomatic disorders as their origin is in the mind with an effect on the body. Depending upon which part of the body is vulnerable the effect is produced e.g.

Nervous system -> headache,

Respiratory system -> asthma,

Gastro intestinal tract -> hyperacidity, ulcers, stomach-ache etc.

For the physical well being of a body, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals are required in certain amounts; so also for a healthy mind certain inputs are required. Only then can total health be ensured. These inputs come from family members and those around the child, and they are important right from birth, and throughout life.

**Contents and Sample Pages**