<p>I was browsing a number of threads yesterday and read in someone's post about a book that dealt with anxiety disorders among students in affluent environments.I believe the poster quoted something like 30% of students suffered from anxiety disorders? (At least that's what I remember it to say)
I meant to look up that book because it sounded interesting, but now I can't find which thread it was. Any ideas?</p>
<p>"The Price of Privilege" by Madeline Levine. Did you know that mood and anxiety disorders are now appearing in approx. 30% of teens from affluent families?</p>
<p>This was posted by MarinMom in a thread about coping with depression after being rejected by colleges.</p>
<p>Families in lower income groups don't necessarily have the ins coverage to get their kids diagnosed, or they have their concerns blown off by drs.</p>
<p>(When I commented to my pedetrician that my D wouldn't let me hold her and she screamed for hours- I received the comment that "every" child is different-rather than acknowledging that I had already been a mother for 8 years and a nanny before that and I knew when something was wrong.)</p>
<p>Or their anxiety is directed outward rather than inward and it is perceived as a "behavior" problem.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.healthinschools.org/mhs2.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.healthinschools.org/mhs2.asp</a></p>
<p>I don't mean to downplay any child legitimate concerns, but I don't think that mental illness is more likely to occur in upper income families than in the general population.</p>
<p>True EK - I actually just had that same discussion with my d. I was curious about their findings though. From what I have been able to gather this afternoon, the book deals with a lot of parental pressure and "over-involvement". Not sure how they define that, but I thought it might be an interesting read.</p>
<p>I just hope it isn't another one of those blame the parent books</p>
<p>I dont think those are helpful- cause the people that really need to read them often wouldn't anyway ( or even if they do- they don't see themselves)</p>
<p>It does sound interesting- its hard to find a balance-</p>
<p>Have not read the book but here is an excerpt from an article written by the author last year:</p>
<p>[Why are children of privilege, in record numbers, having an extraordinarily difficult time completing the most fundamentally important task of adolescence -- the development of autonomy and a healthy sense of self?</p>
<p>We need to examine our parenting paradigm. Raising children has come to look more and more like a business endeavor and less and less like an endeavor of the heart. We are overly concerned with "the bottom line," with how our children "do" rather than with who our children "are." We pour time, attention and money into insuring their performance, consistently making it to their soccer game while inconsistently making it to the dinner table. The fact that our persistent and often critical involvement is well intended, that we believe that our efforts ultimately will help our children to be happy and to successfully compete in a demanding world, does not lessen the damage.</p>
<p>We need to become familiar with the research showing that privileged children from affluent families are experiencing disproportionately high levels of emotional problems, and we need to learn more about why this is the case. We have to examine the disturbing social structure, the "culture of affluence," that surrounds ourselves and our children. While this book focuses on those children who are most clearly damaged by this culture, it is likely that all kids are vulnerable to one degree or another when pressure is excessive, parents are preoccupied and values are poor. We have to be acutely attuned to our own psychological issues and our own happiness, or lack of it. We have to be willing to take an unflinching look at our parenting skills. And finally, we have to begin to develop the kinds of relationships, homes, schools and communities that can act as a safety net not only for kids with "problems" but for all kids. We have to stop pouring our resources into the problem and begin pouring them into the solution.]</p>