helping kids with the “3a’s” - adhd, anxiety and asperger’s disorder to thrive at church
TRANSCRIPT
Stephen Grcevich, MDDirector of Strategic Initiatives, Key Ministry
Presented at An Inclusive Children’s Ministry ConferenceChrist Church
Louisville, KentuckyNovember 7, 2015
Helping Kids With the “3A’s” - ADHD, Anxiety and Asperger’s Disorder to Thrive at Church
Learning Objectives:
Identify obstacles to spiritual growth for kids with common mental health disorders…ADHD, anxiety disorders and Asperger’s DisorderExplore ideas for promoting inclusion of kids and teens with mental illness and their families at churchDiscuss strategies for parents/caregivers to promote spiritual growth at home when kids struggle with mental illness
The barriers to church participation are different for kids with mental illnesses and their families!
Do our strategies for helping kids grow spiritually work if they have mental illness?
An individual with a disability is defined as a person who has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.
Americans With Disabilities Act (1990)
If a mental or physical impairment substantially limits a person’s ability to pursue spiritual growth and participate in a local church, is that person “disabled?”
Barriers to including kids with mental illness at church…
Church… Where does she fit in?
Social isolation Fear/anxiety Social communication Capacity for self-regulation Sensory processing Reluctance to self-identify Stigma Parents with mental illness
What is ADHD?:
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by an age-inappropriate degree of inattentiveness and disorganization, and in some, but not all instances, impulsivity and hyperactivity
Executive functioning as the fundamental difference in persons with ADHD
Executive functions…cognitive abilities involved in controlling and regulating other abilities and behaviors. Necessary to initiate goal-directed behavior, regulate emotions, delay gratification, plan future behavior. Kids with executive functioning weakness struggle to foresee outcomes of behavior, adapt to new situations.Hathaway WL, Barkley RA. J Psychol Christianity 2003, 22(2) 101-114
Key executive functions in ADHD
Behavioral inhibition Verbal working memory Non-verbal working
memory Emotional self-regulation Reconstitution
Poor executive functioning leads to behavior we call “sin”
How might ADHD affect one’s spiritual life?
Inhibition: sitting still through a worship service
Nonverbal working memory: remembering my Bible when it’s time to leave for church
Verbal working memory: the ability to pray silently
Emotional self-regulation: often demonstrate immediate negative reaction to authority
Struggles with time management, prioritizing: I can’t go to youth group on Sunday night because my homework’s not done.
Avoiding pornography on the computer
Forget to register their kids for VBS or the weekend retreat
Struggle to memorize and meditate upon Scripture, remember devotionals with their kids
Scream, yell at spouse and kids, overreact when imposing discipline
Difficulty applying Biblical truths, wisdom in daily life
Children/teens: Adults:
How does ADHD present challenges to internalizing faith:
May have more difficulty maintaining a spiritually disciplined lifeMay have more difficulty meditating quietly upon GodMay give up on Bible study when it becomes tedious More difficulty delaying immediate gratification for long-term spiritual outcomes
Hathaway WL, Barkley RA. J Psychol Christianity 2003, 22(2) 101-114
Unique challenges presented to the church by kids with ADHD:
Church environments less structured than schoolChurch staff lack training, experience with kids with ADHD (unlike the schools that they attend all week)Parents choose not to use, or physicians encourage discontinuation of effective medication on weekendsMany church activities occur when medication has worn off or rebound is occurringDichotomous thinking…Can they or can’t they control it?
Child/Teen Possible Solutions
Large group activities (worship, education)
Small groups
Church activities
Parental challenges in promoting spiritual growth
ADHD: Challenges, solutions in our most common ministry environments
Strategies for promoting church involvement, spiritual formation for kids with ADHD:
Ministry environments designed to be engaging, not overwhelmingGroup leaders, mentors offer accountability, encourage use of gifts, passions for Kingdom purposesActive learners may do better talking while doingShare your stories!Resource parents for 1:1 conversations
What advantages might ADHD provide a follower of Christ?
Willingness to take chances for GodOften energized by ministry activities that capture their imaginationEffective in ministry teams when others have complimentary organizational skills Good at scanning environment for trendsOver-represented among senior pastors? (clearly over-represented among student pastors!)
How are kids with anxiety disorders different from their peers?
They misperceive the level of threat, danger in their environmentThey think too much…often to the point that academics, family functioning, friendships, extracurricular activities are compromisedProne to rumination, perseveration, indecisiveness, perfectionism
How anxiety manifests in children, teens
Note: Kids may experience different manifestations of anxiety as they progress through developmental stages
Separation Anxiety DisorderSpecific PhobiaGeneralized Anxiety DisorderSocial Anxiety DisorderPanic DisorderSelective Mutism
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)is closely related to the anxiety disorders, but was placed in its’ own category in DSM-5
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2007;46(2):267-283
Spiritual challenges for kids and adults with anxiety
Propensity to misperceive God’s character, intentionsThey frequently need to be “in control.”Predisposed to focus on their performance for, as opposed to their relationship with GodAs rule followers, may be drawn to legalismOften susceptible to questioning their faith, salvationSpiritual concerns not infrequently become fodder for obsessive thinking, compulsive behavior
But… for some, God may use anxiety to draw them into a deeper relationship with Him
When is anxiety most likely to cause problems with church participation?
When parents are dropping off kids at age-appropriate programmingIf they find themselves the focus of attentionActivities not part of the weekly routine (mission trips, retreats)Transitions between age-group ministry environments (elementary-middle school, middle school-high school ministry)Small groups with expectation for self-disclosure
Child/Teen Possible Solutions
Large group activities (worship, education)
Small groups
Church activities
Parental challenges in promoting spiritual growth
Anxiety Disorders: Challenges, solutions in our most common ministry environments
Strategies for promoting church involvement, spiritual formation for kids with anxiety…
Preparing kids for new experiences (includes pictures, video)Anticipate response to anxiety-provoking situationsFamiliar people help transitions to new experiences, activitiesAnxiety as a signal to draw closer to God?Parents with partners in reinforcing lessons learned at church
How are kids and teens with Asperger’s Disorder different?
Difficulties with reciprocal social interactions and restricted patterns of interests or activitiesVerbal language development is typical (in contrast to other kids with autism)Sensory processing issuesAverage to high intelligenceHigh rates of ADHD, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Many are desperately lonely and desire friends, but they also frequently prefer their own company
Issues seen in kids with Asperger’s Disorder:
Intense preoccupation with topics, objects, activitiesMay struggle with motor skills, coordinationDifficulty with pragmatic language, differences in intonation, pace, volume, pitch (monotonal)…difficulty with implied meaning, figurative speech, will struggle to find right words in unfamiliar situationsDifficulties identifying with experiences of others (empathy)
Spiritual challenges common to persons with Asperger’s…
May focus on mechanics instead of meaning when asked to “invite Jesus into your heart.”May experience more difficulty grasping empathy… “putting themselves into someone else’s shoes”Vulnerable to faith becoming excessively ritualized, manualMay be resistant to trying new spiritual disciplines, experiencesMay have more difficulty moving on from hurtsHypocrisy from Christians too often hardens hearts against Christianity
Child/Teen Possible Solutions
Large group activities (worship, education)
Small groups
Church activities
Parental challenges in promoting spiritual growth
Asperger’s Disorder: Challenges, solutions in our most common ministry environments
Strategies for promoting church involvement, spiritual growth for kids with Asperger’s
Provide opportunities to rehearse social skills for new situations, environmentsEvaluate sensory stimulation in ministry environmentsBullying education, disability awareness especially important for peers in student ministryMay do better serving alongside adultsPlacement Tap into areas of potential giftedness
Defining the “win”
Whenever a child with a disability or any family member experiences meaningful interaction with a local church
Takeaway points…
Kids with ADHD benefit from environments designed to optimize capacity for self-control and relevant, engaging teaching on the most essential truths of our faithKids with anxiety can have excellent church experiences with appropriate preparation, gradual exposure to threatening situations and sensitivity to their need to not become a focus of attention.Kids with Asperger’s Disorder need sensory-friendly environments, authentic relationships with accepting peers and adults and individualized support of spiritual growth.Kids with mental illness and their families represent one of your church’s greatest outreach opportunities. No church can do everything, but every church can do something!
Additional Resources:
Resource page on ADHD and spiritual development (includes video from Dr. Russ Barkley) http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com/teaching-series-adhd-and-spiritual-development/Resource page on anxiety and spiritual development http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com/resource-page-anxiety-and-spiritual-development/Resource page on Asperger’s Disorder and spiritual development (includes video of 2012 Children’s Ministry Web Summit presentation) http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com/resource-page-anxiety-and-spiritual-development/
Questions?
Key Ministry promotes meaningful connection between churches and families of kids with disabilities for the purpose of making disciples of
Jesus Christ.
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Additional Slides
Ministry strategies for persons with ADHD: Environments
Registration/sign-in needs to be orderly
Staffing for transition times before/after services
Use of color, lighting Engaging, not overwhelming Communication strategies…
reinforce key point(s) Use of touch, nonverbal cues Family worship experiences
geared to kids?
Is signage, direction clear? Use of music, technology Physical environment
shouldn’t become a distraction
Flexibility in dress code Simplicity in communication
Children/teens: Adults:
Ministry strategies for persons with ADHD: Discipleship
Church and parents as partners in teaching kids about God
They’ll learn and retain more in 1:1, small group situations
Ministry resources need to be sent directly to parents
Where can they be involved in meaningful service?
Connecting them with others in the church especially important
Break Scripture into smaller, manageable parts
Small groups offer multiple accountability partners
Where can they be involved in meaningful service?
You have to remind them if you want them to come
Children/teens: Adults:
What can I do to help someone I love with ADHD come to faith, grow in faith?
Spend time with your child one on one or as a family praying together, studying the Bible together
Make Jesus, Scripture interesting by sharing from your experiences
Seek opportunities for your child to serve in ways that fit their talents, gifts
Attend church regularly
Invite them to church (or remind them to come)
Go with them to a church where they’re more likely to have a positive experience
Pray, study the Bible, serve with them
Connect them to others in the church who will accept them, follow up with them
My child: My spouse, sibling, friend: