What are the symptoms of childhood PTSD and how can I get help for my child? | Better Help (2023)

Trigger Warning: Please note that the content of this article describes traumatic childhood events, specifically trauma, abuse, assault, and other potentially triggering topics.

If you experience or witness abuse, you can contact usNational Domestic Violence Hotlinefor help. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text "START" to 88788.online chatis also available.

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We could only realize the impact of our upbringing and childhood when we have overcome it. As adults, we can see that the way we grew up, our experiences and what we lived through can shape who we are now.

It is often thought to equal a happy, balanced childhood with loving parentsbalanced, healthy adults. On the other hand, many psychologists believe that children with absent, judgmental or abusive parents can grow up with mental health problems. One of these is childhood post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as post-traumatic stress disorder, which can stem from traumatic events in childhood.

We can all experience some form of non-traumatic stress in our childhood. Furthermore, the same stressful events can be traumatic for a child, butnot traumatic for someone else.For example, one person may find it easy to grieve their parents' divorce, while another person may struggle with constant images, thoughts, or nightmares about the experience.

Childhood trauma can sometimes feel so overwhelming to a child that they develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Children may be particularly susceptible to developing PTSDtheir parents' divorce.

When early childhood trauma causes a child to develop PTSD, they may feel unable to move on from the traumatic event and return to feeling healthy and calm. Instead, their behavior may change and they may replay the events in their minds. They may also experience survivor's guilt after the trauma occurs.

PTSD in childhood can be associated with other mental disorders, such as borderline personality disorder. In some cases, it may even be associated with an increased risk of chronic disease, chronic pain, and other physical symptoms.

What are the causes of childhood PTSD?

Trauma can depend on the child's personality, environment and upbringing. Although what constitutes "traumatic" can vary from child to child, there are several types of adverse childhood experiences that can cause a child to develop PTSD. These may include:

• Experiencing or witnessing violence, emotional abuse or domestic abuse

• Experiencingsexual abusetheblood shame

• There is physical abuse

• Experience with human trafficking or kidnapping

• Touched by war

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• Being affected by or witnessing a natural disaster

• Displacement due to crisis

• Becoming a refugee or immigrant at a young age

• Live in a neighborhood where there is violence, drugs and crime

• Living through a serious injury or illness (such as cancer)

• Witnessing the death of a loved one by violent or unexpected means

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• Experiencing the death of a key caregiver or parent

• Being neglected or abandoned

• It has been adopted

• Being in foster care, institutionalized or in a group home

Often these causes can be linked. For example, studies show that children who have experienced or witnessed child abuse may bemore likely to be abused as adults.

If a child grows up in an unsafe environment, they may be exposed to several types of trauma during their lifetime, such as dangerous drugs, physical abuse, repeated childhood abuse, or other traumatic events.

Repeated exposure to or transition from any of these events can contribute to the development of complex PTSD. This is not surprisingPTSD in young peopleis increasing as children get older. Complex PTSD is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder that results from repeated traumatic events or complex trauma. The chronic stress of these repeated experiences can have a negative impact on a child's self-esteem, emotional responses and overall well-being.

What are the symptoms of childhood PTSD?

Recognizing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children can be difficult. For example, if a child grows up in an unsafe or hostile environment, caregivers may not seek care for the child's psychological symptoms or problems. If the childhood trauma is inflicted on the child by someone in the family, it may remain unreported.

In addition, some of the signs and symptoms of PTSD can be attributed to the hormonal changes of a growing child. In some cases, caregivers or professionals may not believe a child who reports traumatic events. Intervention may be necessary in these cases. Learning the symptoms of PTSD and taking them seriously can be beneficial if you care for or have children.

Adults and children can experience the same type of PTSD symptoms. However, children may be more focused on their caregivers to provide support and understanding as they aremay lack wordsabout what is going on. Children often express themselves through play for this reason. Pay attention to what kind of games they play, what role they play with the dolls, or the things they draw.

Some children may be afraid to talk about child abuse if it is forced upon them by someone they trust. Whether it's an authority figure, a teacher or a parent, they may fear the consequences of speaking up.

Signs of childhood traumato be aware of may include the following:

• Memories and flashbacks from the traumatic event that keep coming back even though the child wants to forget it

• Have frequent nightmares

• Crying or screaming for no "strange" reason

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• Feeling nervous and "on edge", especially when faced with something that reminds them of the trauma. For example, a child may become anxious or run away when a certain person enters a room

• To act or draw what happened to them

• He has trouble remembering details of the trauma

• Avoid places, people or things that remind them of trauma

• Loss of interest in activities or interests that previously gave them pleasure or joy

• Being isolated or isolated from the people around them

• Difficulty concentrating at school or at home

• Self-blame and guilt for what happened

• Shows aggression or irritability

• Behaving impulsively

• Problems sleeping

• Expressing a general feeling of fear or anxiety

• Behavioral problems, such as illegal behavior, drug use, or risk-taking

These symptoms can last for years and begin just a few weeks after the traumatic event. They can also take several months or years before they first appear. Many children with PTSD may not know they have PTSD until they are adults.

Some children experience what is referred to asacute stress disorder. The condition often refers to a sudden stress reaction with symptoms lasting from a few days to a month. This may be in response to a stressful or traumatic event.

Not all children who have experienced childhood trauma will go on to develop PTSD. Things like mental illness in the family, the type of trauma that occurred, the child's personality, their support system, and the environment they grew up in can all play a role in whether someone develops PTSD.

Diagnosing PTSD in childhood

Because PTSD symptoms can come and go, it can feel easy for a parent to miss the signs. However, at the first signs of PTSD symptoms, it may be beneficial to consult a doctor and a mental health professional and have your child evaluated.

A diagnosis of PTSD will often be made based on the symptoms the child shows. The doctor may also perform some physical and medical evaluations to rule out other diseases or addictions.

A diagnosis of PTSD will be made based on the criteria described inDSM-5. Symptoms from four criteria should be met for children under six years of age.

Are the following:

• Criterion A: Exposure to a traumatic event either directly (has happened to the child) or indirectly (has witnessed it)

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• Criterion B: The presence of at least one intrusive symptom, such as flashbacks or nightmares of the event

• Criterion C: Exhibits withdrawal symptoms and avoidance of places, people, events, or activities

• Criterion D: Shows changes in behavior such as aggression or irritability

If a child has one or more symptoms in each of the four categories, and the symptoms have lasted for at least a month, the doctor can diagnose PTSD. For a PTSD diagnosis, a doctor can check that other factors (such as depression, anxiety or physical illness) are not at play.

A diagnosis of PTSD can be scary or upsetting. But because PTSD isa curable disease, a diagnosis can be the first step towards providing support for your child or a child you care for.

Treatment of PTSD in childhood

Children with PTSD often undergo the same type of treatment as teenagers or adults who have PTSD: psychotherapy and medication. Receiving appropriate mental health services can be valuable for a child in dealing with and moving on from traumatic experiences.

Psychotherapy can help the child deal with the trauma, move on from it and go on to live a healthy and happy life. Depending on the type of trauma the child has suffered and what they are going through, therapists – such as psychologists, clinical social workers, counsellors, trauma counselors, psychiatrists or grief specialists – can provide support.

A mental health therapist may use several techniques to treat PTSD. The most popular and effective methods used are the following:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used to treat a variety of mental disorders and concerns, including PTSD. A therapist who specializes in trauma and children can work with the survivor to understand the trauma and how it has affected them through talk therapy, behavioral coping skills, and more.

CBT can help the trauma survivor understand that they were not to blame for their trauma. The process could also encourage them to let go of any irrational thoughts surrounding the traumatic event. Finally, the therapist can provide survivors with the necessary tools to manage and manage their symptoms.

Play Healing

Through play therapy, a therapist can encourage survivors to communicate what they have been through using a creative approach, such as playing games,create art, role play or play with sensory toys.

Young children or children who do not yet have the skills to communicate effectively may be able to communicate through creative means and imagination. Through play therapy, the therapist can help the child process the trauma.

Eye Movement Desensibilization and Reprocessing (EMDR) terapi

EMDR is a form of trauma-focused therapy that is gaining popularity in the mental health field. Studies show that it is asafe and effective treatmentfor PTSD.

EMDR may involve combining CBT with eye movement exercises (guided by the therapist) in which the survivor talks about what they remember from their trauma. The therapist can work with them to deal with the emotions they experienced during and after the event. This can allow the memories to resurface as it targets both sides of the brain when trauma is processed.

Other trauma treatments

Depending on the situation and the type of trauma the child has experienced, a professional may also recommend support groups, group therapy, family counseling, or another treatment method to help the child understand and deal with what is happening.

Medicine

In some cases, a mental health professional may also prescribe medication to treat some of the symptoms associated with PTSD, such as anxiety or depression. Managing these symptoms can allow a child to resume normal activities more effectively. For many, medication is only a temporary solution.

How to support a child dealing with PTSD

A child with a strong support system may feel safer and more open to treatment. You may consider the following tips.

Confirm them

Make an effort to validate the child's PTSD symptoms or experiences. Don't tell them they are "bad", "dirty" or "dramatic". Validate their feelings by telling them that their experience was traumatic, they didn't deserve it, and you are here to support them and help keep them safe.

Encourage them, but don't force a conversation

Encourage the child to talk about their feelings or experiences when they are ready. Let them know they have a safe place to confide in if they want to talk about it. If they're not prepared, don't force them to open up. Studies show that wound healing can occurwithout rememberingtraumatic events.

Help them with self-care

Consider building a child's self-esteem and confidence by allowing them to participate in activities they are good at, taking their opinions into account and empowering them to make decisions. Model healthy self-care by practicing it in your life.

Don't be judgmental

Try not to be judgmental about your child's behavior. They may struggle with dealing with difficult emotions. It may take time before the child's PTSD treatment feels adequate. Remaining supportive and kind can allow your child to feel secure in relationships, which promotes asecure attachment style.

Receiving support related to childhood PTSD

Let's say you are a parent, guardian, teacher, or loved one of a child who has PTSD. In this case, you can support their healing by providing unconditional love and support and recognizing that they may be going through a difficult time that may affect their behavior and emotions.

If you are struggling or have questions about child support, consider talking to a doctor or therapist. Many parents or childcare workers are too busy to attend an in-person therapy session. If you can relate, support is available online.

Studies show that online cognitive behavioral therapy for adults is effective in treating a variety of concerns. In a study,71% of participantsfound online therapy more effective than traditional counseling.

If you are ready to communicate, consider contacting a counselor on an online platform such asBetter Help. Many therapists experienced in child psychology may be able to support you and your family.