Someone who is the victim of (or threatened by) violence, injury, or harm can develop
a mental health problem called posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD can happen in the first few weeks after an event, or even years later.
People with PTSD often re-experience their trauma in the form of "flashbacks,"
memories, nightmares, or scary thoughts, especially when they're exposed to events
or objects that remind them of the trauma.
Psychologists, therapists, or psychiatrists can help people with PTSD deal with hurtful
thoughts and bad feelings and get back to a normal life.
What Causes PTSD?
PTSD is often associated with soldiers and others on the front lines of war. But
anyone — even kids — can develop it after a traumatic event.
Traumas that might bring on PTSD include the unexpected or violent death
of a family member or close friend, and serious harm or threat of death or injury
to oneself or a loved one.
acts of violence (such as school or neighborhood shootings)
natural or manmade disasters
car crashes
military combat (sometimes called "shell shock")
witnessing another person go through these kinds of traumatic events
being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness
In some cases, PTSD can happen after repeated exposure to these events. Survivor
guilt (feelings of guilt for having survived an event in which friends or family members
died) also might contribute to PTSD.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of PTSD?
People with PTSD have symptoms of stress,
anxiety, and depression
that include many of the following:
Intrusive thoughts or memories of the event
unwanted memories of the event that keep coming back
acting or feeling as though the event is happening again (flashbacks)
heartache and fear when reminded of the event
feeling jumpy, startled, or nervous when something triggers memories of the event
children may reenact what happened in their play or drawings
Avoidance of any reminders of the event
avoiding thinking about or talking about the trauma
avoiding activities, places, or people that are reminders of the event
being unable to remember important parts of what happened
Negative thinking or mood since the event happened
lasting worries and beliefs about people and the world being unsafe
blaming oneself for the traumatic event
lack of interest in participating in regular activities
feelings of anger, shame, fear, or guilt about what happened
feeling detached or estranged from people
not able to have positive emotions (happiness, satisfaction, loving feelings)
Lasting feelings of anxiety or physical reactions
trouble falling or staying asleep
feeling cranky, grouchy, or angry
problems paying attention or focusing
always being on the lookout for danger or warning signs
easily startled
Signs of PTSD in teens are similar to those in adults. But PTSD in children can
look a little different. Younger kids can show more fearful and regressive behaviors.
They may reenact the trauma through play.
Symptoms usually begin within the first month after the trauma, but they may not
show up until months or even years have passed. These symptoms often continue for
years after the trauma. In some cases, they may ease and return later in life if another
event triggers memories of the trauma. (In fact, anniversaries of the event can often
cause a flood of emotions and bad memories.)
PTSD also can come on as a sudden, short-term response (called acute stress
disorder) to an event and can last many days or up to one month.
People with PTSD may not get professional help because they think it's understandable
to feel frightened after going through a traumatic event. Sometimes, people may not
recognize the link between their symptoms and the trauma.
Teachers, doctors, school
counselors, friends, and other family members who know a child or teen well can play
an important role in recognizing PTSD symptoms.
Who Gets PTSD?
Not everyone who goes through a traumatic event gets PTSD. The chances of developing
it and how severe it is vary based on things like personality, history of mental health
issues, social support, family history, childhood experiences, current stress levels,
and the nature of the traumatic event.
Children and teens who go through the most severe trauma tend to have the highest
levels of PTSD symptoms. The more frequent the trauma, the higher the rate of PTSD.
Studies show that people with PTSD often have atypical levels of key
involved in the stress response. For instance, research has shown that
they have lower-than-normal
levels and higher-than-normal epinephrine and norepinephrine levels —
all of which play a big role in the body's "fight-or-flight" reaction to
sudden stress. (It's known as "fight or flight" because that's exactly what
the body is preparing itself to do — to either fight off the danger or run from it.)
How Is PTSD Treated?
Many people recover from a traumatic event after a period of adjustment. But if
your child or teen has experienced a traumatic event and has symptoms of PTSD for
more than a month, get help from an expert.
Therapy can help address
symptoms of avoidance, intrusive and negative thoughts, and a depressed or negative
mood. A therapist will work with your family to help you and your child or teen
adjust to what happened and get back to living life.
Mental health professionals who can help include:
psychologists
psychiatrists
licensed clinical social workers
licensed professional counselors
licensed trauma professionals
bereavement specialists
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is very effective for people who
develop PTSD. This type of therapy teaches ways to replace negative, unhelpful thoughts
and feelings with more positive thinking. Behavioral strategies can be used at a child's
own pace to help desensitize the child to the traumatic parts of what happened so
he or she doesn't feel so afraid of them.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) combines
cognitive therapy with directed eye movements. This has been shown to be effective
in treating people of all ages with PTSD.
Play therapy is used to treat young children with PTSD who can't
directly deal with the trauma.
In some cases, medicine can help treat serious symptoms of depression and anxiety.
This can help those with PTSD cope with school and other daily activities while being
treated. Medicine often is used only until someone feels better, then therapy can
help get the person back on track.
Finally, group therapy or support groups are helpful because they let kids and
teens know that they're not alone. Groups also provide a safe place to share feelings.
Ask your child's therapist for referrals or suggestions.
How Can Parents Help?
Above all, your child needs your support and understanding. Sometimes other family
members like parents and siblings will need support too. While family and friends
can play a key role in helping someone recover, help usually is needed from a trained
therapist.
Here are some other things parents can do to support kids with PTSD:
Most kids will need time to adjust after a stressful event. While they do, it's
important for parents to offer support, love, and understanding.
Try to keep kids' schedules and lives as similar as possible to before the event.
This means not allowing your child to take off too much time from school or activities,
even if it's hard at the beginning.
Let them talk about the traumatic event when and if they feel ready. Praise them
for being strong when they do talk about it, but don't force the issue if they don't
feel like sharing their thoughts. Some kids may prefer to draw or write about their
experiences. Either way, encouragement and praise can help them get feelings out.
Reassure them that their feelings are typical and that they're not "going
crazy." Support and understanding from parents can help with handling difficult
feelings.
Some kids and teens find it helpful to get involved in a support group for trauma
survivors. Look online or check with your pediatrician or the school counselor
to find groups nearby.
Get professional help immediately if you have any concern that a child has thoughts
of self-harm. Thoughts of suicide are
serious at any age and should be treated right away.
Help build self-confidence by encouraging kids to make everyday decisions where
appropriate. PTSD can make kids feel powerless, so parents can help by showing their
kids that they have control over some parts of their lives. Depending on a child's
age, parents might consider letting him or her choose a weekend activity or decide
things like what's for dinner or what to wear.
Tell them that the traumatic event is not their fault. Encourage kids to talk
about any feelings of guilt, but don't let them blame themselves for what happened.
Stay in touch with caregivers. It's important to talk to teachers, babysitters,
and other people who are involved in your child's life.
Do not criticize regressive behavior (returning to a previous level of development).
If children want to sleep with the lights on or take a favorite stuffed animal to
bed, it might help them get through this difficult time. Speak to your child's doctor
or therapist if you're not sure about what is helpful for your son or daughter.
Looking Ahead
Be sure to also take care of yourself. Helping your child or teen cope with PTSD
can be very challenging and may require a lot of patience and support. Time does heal,
and getting good support for your family can help everyone move forward.