“What causes an aggressive child?”

It can be due to stress, trauma, unmet needs, or learning issues. If you have any further questions or need more clarity, please consult with a psychiatrist. If you`re in Texas, we welcome you to reach out to www.MidCitiesPsychiatry.com, we`re here to help you.

Aggression in children has a variety of possible causes. Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome is a possibility. You can look at the diagnostic criteria on the Stanford University PANS website. Children also go through phases of aggression for psychosocial reasons. I have found The Five Love Languages of Children book to be quite helpful in several cases where children seemed to be developing a defiant attitude. Other possibilities include nutritional causes (too much sugar can create ups and downs in mood, even an hour or two after a meal), sleep issues (inadequate or non-restorative sleep can cause daytime fatigue and irritability), peer influences (including some social media sources), pain (have you asked her if she is hurting any where?), and finally, some type of medical condition that would require more historical and clinical information to diagnose. I wish you well in sorting this out, and hope she gets some relief from some of these negative feelings.