> > Crying could cause brain damage > By Robin Yapp > 01 December 2004 > > LEAVING children to cry without offering any comfort could cause lasting > damage to their brains, it was claimed yesterday. > > British psychologist Professor Margot Sunderland said high rates of > depression and emotional problems in teenagers may be the result of ignoring > their distress earlier in life. > Persistent distress as a child could lead to lasting changes in the brain, > including shrinkage of an area that links its emotional and logical sides. > Expert opinion has been divided over the years on whether parents, to > encourage a regular sleep routine, should leave babies and toddlers to cry > until they fall asleep rather than rushing to their side. > Professor Sunderland's book, for which she reviewed more than 700 scientific > papers, said this was potentially dangerous advice. > "The blunt truth is that uncomforted distress may cause damage to the > child's developing brain," said Professor Sunderland, who is director of > training at the Centre for Child Mental Health in London. > "If you ignore a crying child, tell them to shut up or put them in a room on > their own, you can cause serious damage to their brains on a level that can > result in severe neurosis and emotional disorders later in life." > The dramatic claims are the latest chapter in one of the most hotly debated > areas of child care. > Some experts, such as child psychologist Dr Penelope Leach, say parents must > take the attitude that "baby knows best" and encourage mothers to follow > their maternal instincts to cuddle their child when he or she cries. > But Gina Ford, a leading maternity nurse, said parents should stick to > schedules for feeding and sleeping in order to help get children into a > routine and should resist picking up a crying child during sleep times. > Professor Sunderland said brain scans showed that stress early in life could > shrink an area of the brain called the corpus callosum. > This is a bundle of nerve fibres which connects the brain's right > hemisphere, which is associated with emotion, to the left hemisphere, which > is associated with logic. > "Parents should never try to persuade their child out of feeling a certain > emotion," she said. > "It is important to prove to them you are empathising through the time you > give them and the language and facial expressions you use. > "If your child is upset, you will increase rather than reduce their feelings > of stress by not taking their upset seriously. > "Attempting to jolly them out of the mood will result in them internalising > their stresses." > > Debbie Kopel, > Prahran/Malvern group, Vic, > Training stuff, > Ass.s' Adv, T.Sec, etc, > Qualified 1986, > Hubby Nathan (1981), Mum to Nic(12/1/84), Elise(6/4/1986), Simon(1/3/1990) > > Mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> > Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. > Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! > http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/VaTolB/TM > --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ababcnet/ > > <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > >
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