Words like “defiance” and “impulsivity” were met with nods of understanding during the Sandhills Center for Mental Health presentation “Dealing with Challenging Behaviors in Children” recently.

The connections lecture by Linda Swann, Sandhills program coordinator with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), was one of the monthly family support programs sponsored by the center. As a local management entity, the center both manages and provides services pertaining to mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse.

Swann outlined coping strategies for care givers of children with emotional disorders, illustrated through real-life examples.

“My son was easy to get along with and obedient — until he turned 16,” said Swann. “Does that sounds familiar? That sounds like every 16-year-old, doesn’t it?”

But Swann’s son was different. As it turned out, he had schizoaffective disorder.

“One day he came home from college and said ‘I’m not going back.’”

Swann discussed similar red flags for various mood and behavioral disorders - like bipolar, attention deficit and depression - that she said have been diagnosed in children as young as 18 months old. She also explained the physiological and emotional manifestations of those disorders, and how to deal with them.

“If you remember one thing from today, remember this: When feelings are intense, thinking is impaired” said Swann. “What do we do when children act up? When they do things that we don’t like?

“We say ‘Why did you do that?’ But when their emotions are so intense, they don’t really know why they did it.”

Swann offered several communication pointers and strategies for such situations, like questions to get children talking about their problems. She added that self-care, like getting exercise and using breathing techniques, is equally important.

“It’s just like what they tell you when you’re on an airplane,” said Swann. “If those oxygen masks drop down, put yours on first, then take care of the child.”

Audience members participated in interactive activities and were encouraged to give their input and ask questions.

“This really helped me as far as learning how to talk to some of my kids who have various behavior disorders or have special needs,” said Bernard Henry, a coach at Anson High School. “And how to help those children deal with emotions like anger in a group setting.”

Adrian Lovelace, Mental Health Association in North Carolina Family Programs Coordinator for Anson and Richmond Counties, said many area professionals, such as social workers and school nurses, have taken advantage of the opportunity to learn about how to better serve children with emotional needs.

“But the program is open to anyone,” she said. “We would love to see more parents and families getting involved, and we encourage them to come and ask questions.”

Monday’s lecture was contracted through the MHA-NC and held at First United Methodist Church in Rockingham.

Upcoming family support programs are offered free of charge: Parent Support Group, Rockingham First United Methodist Church, April 6, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (lunch included); SafeTalk - Suicide Alertness for Everyone, a lecture by Tai Bryant-Rochelle of MHA-NC, Calvary Episcopal Church in Wadesboro, April 15, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (lunch included); Advocacy Training - A Public Policy Update, a lecture by Erin McLaughlin of MHA-NC, Rockingham First United Methodist Church, April 28, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pre-registration is encouraged. For more information or to register contact Adrian Lovelace at 866-916-1493 or alovelace@mha-nc.org or visit www.mha-nc.org.