If your kids are verbal, do they ever complain of not feeling well or do they sometimes experience unusual levels of anxiety or depression?

For obvious reasons, it helps a lot if our kids are verbal. But if they’re not, you still know your kids better than anyone else. Sometimes you can “read” how they’re feeling and make important observations.

These maladies are common for people with autism, and sometimes it seems that there’s little that can be done about it.

And when our kids are feeling this way, we as moms sometimes feel helpless and don’t know what to do to help them.

But with a little (or maybe a lot of) detective-type work, you might be able to narrow down the source of the problem.

I’ve found that for my family, eating foods they are sensitive to or allergic to can start a reaction that can result in anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, etc.

Or even breathing in fumes they are allergic to, such as gasoline fumes, can cause problems.

And even our homes can be a source of problems. Sensitivities to mold or toxic building materials, or even poor ventilation can make life very difficult for our children. Even behavior problems can often be linked to nutritional or environmental sensitivities.

If your child doesn’t feel well at home, but improves when you leave home and then feels worse again upon returning home, that could be an indication that it’s time to have your house examined by a qualified home inspector.

Sick Building Syndrome is a very real problem today. But fortunately, the inspector can make important recommendations for improving the air quality of your home. This can make all the difference in the world for your children.

If you suspect these issues may be a problem, research is your friend here. Just Google "Sick Building Syndrome" and you'll find lots of helpful information.

When our kids aren’t behaving very well, they may not be giving us a hard time. They’re likely HAVING a hard time.

Til next time,