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Psychological And Physical Side Effects On Children Essay

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Divorce causes both psychological and physical side effects in the involved children. Typically, children enter into an emotional state of fear and anxiety resulting from the monumental changes occurring within their environmental and family contexts. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines anxiety and fear as, “…the emotional response to real or perceived threats, whereas anxiety is anticipation of future threat” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 189). Children of divorce often experience both emotional states simultaneously. Children also experience fear stemming from the current perceived threat of their parents’ divorcing, and they experience anxiety stemming from the perceived threat of a radically different parental relationship and home environment.
While not necessarily called to engage in psychoanalysis or official medical diagnoses, those serving within a pastoral role will routinely encounter children dealing with the realities of divorce. Ministers should be well aware of the physical symptoms of fear and anxiety in order to discern such issues within their younger parishioners and determine the necessity of a counseling referral.
Numerous physical side effects manifest within children experiencing the emotional states of fear and anxiety. These symptoms can range from restlessness, sweating, and hyperventilation, to chest tightness and gastro-intestinal issues. Children battling excessive fear and anxiety often

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