Witnessing or experiencing domestic violence.Violence in the home, school, or community.Loss of a loved one due to various circumstances (e.g.Living with a parent/caregiver with significant mental illness.Institutional racism in schools or communities.Some situations that could be potentially traumatic for a child include: These traumatic experiences can be an isolated event or series of events, both of which can have traumatic effects into adulthood. However, PTSD can occur in anyone who has experienced trauma. The duration and perceived severity of trauma in conjunction with protective factors, such as whether or not the individual has safe and supportive surroundings, plays a large part in whether or not an individual develops PTSD. Still, it is important to note that not all exposure to trauma leads to a diagnosis of PTSD. Traumatic events for children cause various reactions, such as traumatic shock, and can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). All trauma is not equal, though, as something that was traumatic for one person could be seen as typical or easily resolved for someone else. But preventing risks for trauma, like maltreatment, violence, or injuries, or lessening the impact of unavoidable disasters on children, can help protect a child from PTSD.Childhood trauma can look very differently depending on the situation and the individual, but generally, childhood trauma is when a child experiences, witnesses, or hears about any threatening or dangerous situation. Many factors may play a role, including biology and temperament. It is not known exactly why some children develop PTSD after experiencing stressful and traumatic events, and others do not. If you need help finding treatment facilities, visit.Find a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, a search tool by the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder, a research tool by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Psychologist Locator, a service of the American Psychological Association (APA) Practice Organization.Here are tools to find a healthcare provider familiar with treatment options: Medication may also be used to decrease symptoms. Behavior therapy, specifically cognitive-behavioral therapy, helps children learn to change thoughts and feelings by first changing behavior in order to reduce the fear or worry. Psychotherapy in which the child can speak, draw, play, or write about the stressful event can be done with the child, the family, or a group. Once the diagnosis is made, the first step is to make the child feel safe by getting support from parents, friends, and school, and by minimizing the chance of another traumatic event to the extent possible. Because the event was distressing, children may not want to talk about the event, so a health provider who is highly skilled in talking with children and families may be needed. For a PTSD diagnosis, a specific event must have triggered the symptoms. The first step to treatment is to talk with a healthcare provider to arrange an evaluation. Learn about the guidelines for diagnosing and treating PTSD Serious illness or death of a close family member or friend.Being a victim or witness to violence or crime.Physical, sexual, or emotional maltreatment.Read a guide for clinicians on deciding if it is ADHD or child traumatic stress.Įxamples of events that could cause PTSD include Avoiding places or people associated with the eventīecause children who have experienced traumatic stress may seem restless, fidgety, or have trouble paying attention and staying organized, the symptoms of traumatic stress can be confused with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Denying that the event happened or feeling numb.Constantly looking for possible threats, being easily startled.Becoming very upset when something causes memories of the event.Reliving the event over and over in thought or in play.When children develop long term symptoms (longer than one month) from such stress, which are upsetting or interfere with their relationships and activities, they may be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The child could experience this trauma directly or could witness it happening to someone else. However, sometimes children who experience severe stress, such as from an injury, from the death or threatened death of a close family member or friend, or from violence, will be affected long-term. Most of the time, children recover quickly and well. All children may experience very stressful events that affect how they think and feel.
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