Hypersensitive child and sickness

Most parents will do all that they can to save their child from ill health. Some babies are born hypersensitive. It may take parents a few trial and errors to get it right. A hypersensitive child can be a challenge to many parents because they require most things to be a certain way. For example they don’t like noises so you can’t make noise when they are asleep. They hate bright lights. Maybe wool or certain cotton makes them react a certain way. They are intolerant of lots of food when they start eating solids. It is a challenge to get to know them. But it is worth it. 

Hypersensitive children can become creatives

Hypersensitivity comes with creativity and they are the most caring and kind child you will have. They are connected to the spiritual realm.They can spend most of their childhood in hospitals because the parents are not getting it. It’s not like the baby can tell you that they are too warm or the clothes that they are wearing are itchy. It is no picnic having to deal with this type of child especially if you are not a sensitive parent yourself. These babies need a certain kind of environment to flourish and as a parent, you need to be tuned in to the needs of your child.

I remember being a sickly child myself

The hospital was my second home and the nurses there were my friends. I would be discharged for a week and the following week, I would be back at the hospital needing care. What was wrong with me? Well, everything in the sense that my immunity was hypersensitive. I suffered migraines, stomachaches, nose bleeds and whatever bug was passing through the schools. I didn’t understand it as a child but now I do. There were problems at home and I was a hypersensitive child. 

Lack of proper maternity care

Third world hospitals are insane. Mothers are not cared for properly and the babies may not get diagnosis of certain ailments. Yes, you will get the mandatory shots that most children get but sometimes the hospitals lack diagnosis of the tricky diseases. The newborn heel prick (blood spot test) is not mandatory in most third world hospitals. This test is a screening for inherited, genetic and metabolic conditions like sickle-cell disorders, congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis and so much more. 

Too many people in the house

We lived with 10 to 15 people in a 3-roomed house. Shocking. Yes, I know. Poverty makes people who have no business living together, live together. We were poor but our uncles and aunts were poorer. It was a sad situation. They could not afford to send their children to school so my parents did. Some uncles had remarried and their new wives did not want to take care of the ex-wife’s children even though it was never the child’s fault. Being that many people in a small house meant that there was no space. It was also during the years where people smoked indoors. I ended up with many chest infections. Not to mention that it is hard to maintain cleanliness and hygiene when there are too many people in a small space. 

Bad diet

Zimbabwe is a beautiful country but the diet is limited. It has gotten better due to exposure to other cultures. But when I was young, we had the same dish every night; pap (a meal made with corn flour) with beef and fresh greens. For breakfast it was bread with butter and jam or sometimes eggs. Breakfast could vary because sometimes we had pumpkins and sweet potatoes for breakfast. I know it sounds odd but it was a welcome change. Every dinner was the same except on special occasions like Christmas and Easter. You don’t need a nutritionist to tell you the dangers of a lack of a varied diet. You miss on other key nutrients like vitamins and minerals. 

My mum is a people person

If I grow up to become like my mum, I would start a charity. It’s a joke we used to say at home. But it’s true. My mum is kind, caring and giving to an extent that can leave you reeling at times. It leaves you reeling not because you are not kind, but because it’s too much. Plus it appeared that she loved her nephews and nieces. My mother would give all that she has including the 3 rooms I mentioned before. If it’s food, she will cook to feed everyone who is there, tomorrow will sort itself out. I am glad that she is kind and I have learned a lot from her. But I wished she had boundaries. You need those. Especially if you are a kind person. Otherwise, people take advantage of you.

I was a hypersensitive child

I was a hypersensitive child and I still am a hypersensitive person. Things have to be a certain way for me or I am going to have a bad day. I like lights a certain way, my clothes have to be washed with non-bio detergent. Sensitive toiletries are all that I can tolerate. My food intolerances are a long list. If I don’t sleep, I can’t function at all. I worked night shifts for a while and I became a zombie. Certain environments like concerts, live bands or night-clubs are my kryptonite. I get so overwhelmed that I sort of shut down. It took me a while to know who I am and with that in mind, I forgive my parents because they did not know how to deal with me.

Poverty

Poverty itself can hurt a child. There are certain aspects of poverty that are hard to explain unless you have lived it. Like how you can have one or two pairs of socks for the whole term/semester. This means washing your socks everyday after school. Living on edge can send you into a crazy mental state. There was always a need. You are judged by other students. You lack the basics for a good life.

Some children are born with an ultra-sensitive nervous system like I was and it makes life a bit hard especially if you are poor. The child might end up being a sickly child. But the moment they are in a better environment, where some or all of their needs are met, they get better or healthy. If you are a parent, try to tune in into your child’s psyche. Look at your environment and whatever is going on in your household. Is it a safe space for a child? Your child may not be as sickly as they are presenting. They may just need extra special care. Of course sometimes they are just sickly but it doesn’t hurt to look at your environment.