Although medical information is the first thing to communicate about the disease, it is crucial that your child learn to recognize his or her feelings about psoriasis. Typically, when young people develop psoriasis, it not only affects them physically but also emotionally. It may influence how they view and interact with the world, the activities they take part in, the people they seek out as friends and the interests they develop.
Some children show little emotional reaction; others are embarrassed, angry or sad. Children may be apprehensive about their psoriasis getting worse or recurring. Anxiety over rejection by peers is very common, especially as the child moves toward teenage years.
Emotional SwingsPsoriasis presents a range of emotional responses, and coming to terms with having the disease may take some time. No one can predict how a child with the disease will act or feel, because psoriasis tends to fluctuate from worse to better, and the child's feelings will shift as well. The swing in feelings alone can cause confusion. While some children show little in the way of an emotional reaction to psoriasis, others feel embarrassed, angry or sad.
Your child's ability to communicate effectively about the disease and his or her feelings is as important as developing ways to help your child manage the symptoms of psoriasis. Remember that having psoriasis at a young age impacts the patient's body image more severely than in adults.
