Having a child with Post Tramatic Stress Disorder can be daunting. Finding information is difficult and you often feel alone and confused as to how best to help your child. PTSD is a medical condition. There is no magic pill to fix it, but there IS help out there and there are things that can help someone suffering with it (and those that care about them).
A diagnosis of PTSD means that an individual experienced an event that involved a threat to one's own or another's life or physical integrity and that this person responded with intense fear, helplessness, or horror. There are a number of traumatic events that have been shown to cause PTSD in children and adolescents. Children and adolescents may be diagnosed with PTSD if they have survived natural and man made disasters such as floods; violent crimes such as kidnapping, rape or murder of a parent, sniper fire, and school shootings; motor vehicle accidents such as automobile and plane crashes; severe burns; exposure to community violence; war; peer suicide; and sexual and physical abuse.
Studies indicate that 15 to 43% of girls and 14 to 43% of boys have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Of those children and adolescents who have experienced a trauma, 3 to 15% of girls and 1 to 6% of boys could be diagnosed with PTSD. Rates of PTSD are higher for certain types of trauma survivors. (1)
A diagnosis of PTSD means that an individual experienced an event that involved a threat to one's own or another's life or physical integrity and that this person responded with intense fear, helplessness, or horror. There are a number of traumatic events that have been shown to cause PTSD in children and adolescents. Children and adolescents may be diagnosed with PTSD if they have survived natural and man made disasters such as floods; violent crimes such as kidnapping, rape or murder of a parent, sniper fire, and school shootings; motor vehicle accidents such as automobile and plane crashes; severe burns; exposure to community violence; war; peer suicide; and sexual and physical abuse.
Studies indicate that 15 to 43% of girls and 14 to 43% of boys have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Of those children and adolescents who have experienced a trauma, 3 to 15% of girls and 1 to 6% of boys could be diagnosed with PTSD. Rates of PTSD are higher for certain types of trauma survivors. (1)
PTSD has specific criteria for age-specific symptoms.(this list is not inclusive, but a rough idea to get your started)(2).
Very young children (under 4) may present with few PTSD symptoms. This may be because eight of the PTSD symptoms require a verbal description of one's feelings and experiences. Instead, young children may report more generalized fears such as stranger or separation anxiety, avoidance of situations that may or may not be related to the trauma, sleep disturbances, and a preoccupation with words or symbols that may or may not be related to the trauma. These children may also display posttraumatic play in which they repeat themes of the trauma. In addition, children may lose an acquired developmental skill (such as toilet training) as a result of experiencing a traumatic event.
Clinical reports suggest that elementary school-aged children may not experience visual flashbacks or amnesia for aspects of the trauma. However, they do experience "time skew" and "omen formation," which are not typically seen in adults. Time skew refers to a child mis-sequencing trauma related events when recalling the memory. Omen formation is a belief that there were warning signs that predicted the trauma. As a result, children often believe that if they are alert enough, they will recognize warning signs and avoid future traumas. School-aged children also reportedly exhibit posttraumatic play or reenactment of the trauma in play, drawings, or verbalizations. Posttraumatic play is different from reenactment in that posttraumatic play is a literal representation of the trauma, involves compulsively repeating some aspect of the trauma, and does not tend to relieve anxiety. An example of posttraumatic play is an increase in shooting games after exposure to a school shooting. Posttraumatic reenactment, on the other hand, is more flexible and involves behaviorally recreating aspects of the trauma (e.g., carrying a weapon after exposure to violence).
PTSD in adolescents may begin to more closely resemble PTSD in adults. However, there are a few features that have been shown to differ. As discussed above, children may engage in traumatic play following a trauma. Adolescents are more likely to engage in traumatic reenactment, in which they incorporate aspects of the trauma into their daily lives. In addition, adolescents are more likely than younger children or adults to exhibit impulsive and aggressive behaviors.
Very young children (under 4) may present with few PTSD symptoms. This may be because eight of the PTSD symptoms require a verbal description of one's feelings and experiences. Instead, young children may report more generalized fears such as stranger or separation anxiety, avoidance of situations that may or may not be related to the trauma, sleep disturbances, and a preoccupation with words or symbols that may or may not be related to the trauma. These children may also display posttraumatic play in which they repeat themes of the trauma. In addition, children may lose an acquired developmental skill (such as toilet training) as a result of experiencing a traumatic event.
Clinical reports suggest that elementary school-aged children may not experience visual flashbacks or amnesia for aspects of the trauma. However, they do experience "time skew" and "omen formation," which are not typically seen in adults. Time skew refers to a child mis-sequencing trauma related events when recalling the memory. Omen formation is a belief that there were warning signs that predicted the trauma. As a result, children often believe that if they are alert enough, they will recognize warning signs and avoid future traumas. School-aged children also reportedly exhibit posttraumatic play or reenactment of the trauma in play, drawings, or verbalizations. Posttraumatic play is different from reenactment in that posttraumatic play is a literal representation of the trauma, involves compulsively repeating some aspect of the trauma, and does not tend to relieve anxiety. An example of posttraumatic play is an increase in shooting games after exposure to a school shooting. Posttraumatic reenactment, on the other hand, is more flexible and involves behaviorally recreating aspects of the trauma (e.g., carrying a weapon after exposure to violence).
PTSD in adolescents may begin to more closely resemble PTSD in adults. However, there are a few features that have been shown to differ. As discussed above, children may engage in traumatic play following a trauma. Adolescents are more likely to engage in traumatic reenactment, in which they incorporate aspects of the trauma into their daily lives. In addition, adolescents are more likely than younger children or adults to exhibit impulsive and aggressive behaviors.
So how do we help?
Information - our site is still in the building process, but check back often for the newest information on ptsd in kids. What are the signs? Treatment options? Get Support.
Service Dogs - have a child with ptsd or know one that you feel may benefit from having a service dog? We help identify, train, and then give these amazing working dogs to kids to help them get control over their ptsd instead of it controlling them.
Grants - Intensive Trauma Therapy Group in West Virginia has an amazing program just for kids with ptsd. It's a week long program loacted at theior offices. It's not inexpensive, but we believe in their work so much we want to make sure all the kids who would get accepted to their program can attend so we offer grants to help families defray the costs of this important treatment.
Events - check back often for events we are holding to raise awareness, raise funds for our mission, and to get kids together to support one another and have fun while doing it!
Service Dogs - have a child with ptsd or know one that you feel may benefit from having a service dog? We help identify, train, and then give these amazing working dogs to kids to help them get control over their ptsd instead of it controlling them.
Grants - Intensive Trauma Therapy Group in West Virginia has an amazing program just for kids with ptsd. It's a week long program loacted at theior offices. It's not inexpensive, but we believe in their work so much we want to make sure all the kids who would get accepted to their program can attend so we offer grants to help families defray the costs of this important treatment.
Events - check back often for events we are holding to raise awareness, raise funds for our mission, and to get kids together to support one another and have fun while doing it!
(1) The National Center for PTSD
(2) Chaotic Spyder Foundation should not take the place of trained medical advice. We are here to desiminate information available in one location to help guide parents and familes as they seek treatment for their child.
(3) The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault
(2) Chaotic Spyder Foundation should not take the place of trained medical advice. We are here to desiminate information available in one location to help guide parents and familes as they seek treatment for their child.
(3) The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault