Tragic life events have a way of leaving an indelible mark on our psyche. Tragedy is a relative term and has a unique meaning for each individual. For one person, tragedy may be an unexpected job loss while others may feel tragedy is the death of a loved one. Similarly, what is tragic for a child may not be considered tragic for an adult. It is important to pay close attention to a child that has had something upsetting occur. A child may not be able to verbalize their feelings after an event that was traumatic so it is up to caretakers to be aware of behavioral changes that may signify Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Causes
A child can develop this disorder by being in a home where there is arguing, seeing a traumatic event, or being involved in a bad accident. There is no way to determine the extent of the trauma unless there is good communication with the child. Asking key questions will help reveal the depth of the trauma. Ask the child about their dreams, their feelings surrounding the event, and if they ever feel afraid. Questions should be age appropriate and should not lead the child. Adolescents may be less likely to discuss their feelings but may show uncharacteristic personality changes. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can cause distress for a person for a lifetime if not addressed at some point with professional interventions.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder requires that the person has had a traumatic event in which there was a threat of serious injury or death or that they witnessed such an even happening to another person. Symptoms of this disorder in children may include recreating themes of the traumatic event during play or reenacting the trauma physically. The child may have nightmares but not be able to describe the details of the dream. Often there is some intense physical and/or emotional reaction to exposure to things related to the trauma, such as a fear of the car or cars on TV after an accident. There will be avoidance behaviors in which the child may avoid a preferred activity, places, or people that may remind them of the trauma. The child may also reject affection or close relationships out of fear of their own imminent death or the death of a loved one. A child with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder will also have some difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep, be more irritable or angry than usual, have a hard time paying attention, and may startle easily. If this behavior continues for at least 1 month then there is a high likelihood that the child has this disorder and will need support from a mental health professional.
Treatment
Treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has the best outcomes when treated as close to the event as possible. The person with the disorder can still successfully overcome it years after the trauma but therapy may need to be longer in duration. Talk therapy is helpful for some clients while some find recounting the trauma or the feelings surrounding it to be re-traumatizing. It is important to find a counselor that can use different techniques to help the client deal with the disorder in a way that is comfortable but effective. A technique called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing allows the client to reprocess the event in a way that is less traumatizing and allows them to regain control over their emotions surrounding the event. This also teaches relaxation and reframing to help stop the intrusive thoughts about the trauma. Often the family should have some therapy sessions together especially if other family members witnessed the trauma as well. For children, adolescents, and adults the use of sand tray or play therapy can be very helpful and cathartic for the client and allows for visual representations of their feelings. This can be helpful if verbal communication is difficult. Overall, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is treatable but some symptoms may remain that can be remediated by seeking counseling as needed.
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