Ask the Doc: My son has an imaginary brother

Q: My son has the most vivid imagination. He pretends that he has a brother. This has been going on for six months. He is eight. Is this abnormal?

A: You have not shared much regarding the situation. It would be interesting to know when the pretence happens and how often. Please take him to see a psychologist as soon as possible.

Q: Everyone is saying that my family is not coping well with the sudden loss of my mother. She walked into the yard and slipped and fell. She was mentally normal. Will we ever get over this?

A: You will learn to cope with this situation, but you may need a counsellor or psychologist who will provide grief and loss counselling for the family. Remember, it will take time to heal from this sorrow.

Q: Autism seems to be the order of the day. I have noticed that persons who have a child who is mentally retarded or learning disabled want to refer to their child as autistic. Is this the new bandwagon?

A: Sometimes, persons who have children with disabilities are still unsure or not accepting of a diagnosis that has been given and may desire to use a term that they are comfortable with . What is important is that the child is properly diagnosed and receives the support that is needed.