CierraMakaelaCandler

EnglishIV
Mrs.Battle
Spring2016
PTSDinChildren
Imagineasachildgrowingupincrampedrundownapartmentssurroundedbyviolence
24/7.Imaginewatchingoneofyourfamilymembersbeingmurderedrightinfrontofyoureyes
attheageoffive.Imaginecominghomefromelementaryschoolinthemiddleofwintertoan
emptyhomewithnofood,heatorgas.Imaginehowallthosethousandsofchildrenfeelona
dailybasis.ChildrengrowingupintraumaticsituationssuchastheseareatahigherriskofPost
TraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD),apsychologicaldisorderusuallyonlyattributedtoveterans
ofwar.PTSDisadisorderthatcomesfromextremetraumathatthechildhasseen,been
through,orheardaboutincrucialdetailssuchasacar
wreckorsexualabuseoramurder.(Lubitetal)Itis
oftenhardtomarktheactualnumbersofchildrenwho
sufferfromtrauma.Thisisbecause,
rates
underestimatetraumaticexposuregiventhatthey
addressabuseonlyandnotothertypesoftraumatic
events.Also,theyunderestimateabusebecausenotall
abuseisreported.Infact,a2011studybythe
DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,outofthe3.4millionreferrals,19percentwere
substantiatedandhappenedatthefollowingrates:morethan75percent(78.5%)suffered

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neglectmorethan15percent(17.6%)sufferedphysicalabuselessthan10percent(9.1%)
sufferedsexualabuse.(HamblenandBarnett)Aschildrenageintotheirteens,theyhavea
greateropportunitytobeexposedtotraumaticevents.AccordingtotheU.S.Departmentof
VeteransAffairs,almosthalfhadexperiencedaformoftraumasuchassexualabuseand
physicalviolenceandassault,andorwitnessedviolence.Additionally,morefemalesthanmales
sufferwithPTSDatarateof8%vs.2.3%andacceleratewithage.(HamblenandBarnett)
Although,onemaythinkthatthesechildrenaredoomedinadulthood,
withearlyinterventions
andtraumabasedtraining,caregiversandeducatorscanbettersupportthedevelopmentand
learningofchildrensufferingfromPTSD.
ThereisnotjustonecauseofPTSDinchildren.Whenachildhaslivedthrougha
traumaticeventwhichtheycouldhaveexperiencedorwitnessedhappeningtosomeonethey
caredforsuchassexualabuse,neglect,physicalabuse,orpsychologicalabuse,heorshehasa
higherchanceofdevelopingPTSDlaterinlife.OnecouldalsoseePTSDinachildfroma
tragiccaraccidentoranaturaldisastersuchasahurricaneortornado.Themostprevalentform
ofabuseisneglect.Notably,about65%ofreportsfromchildprotectionservicesarecasesof
neglect.(
PTSDinChildrenandTeens
)Neglectinchildrencanbedifficulttoidentifybecause
therearemanysignsandsymptomssuchasachildbeingdirtymightjustbebecausetheywere
playingoutside,butwhenitgetspersistentandtherearemultipleindicatorslikeunwashed
clothes,nothavingwarmenoughclothesfortheseason,thechildishungryandorthechild's
hairorteetharenotkeptuptoparastheyshouldbe.Theseareindicatorsthatthechildisbeing
neglected.NotallcasesofneglectautomaticallyleadtoPTSD,butiftheneglectistoasevere
degreeanditisongoing
Children...aremorelikelytoexperiencementalhealthproblems

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includingdepressionandposttraumaticstressdisorder.
Peopledon'trealizehowmuchofan
impactneglectcanhaveonchildrenatayoungage.Infact,thefirstfewyearsofachildslife
directlyimpactstheirbraindevelopment.Neglectcanseverelyalterachildsbrainbyweakening
ordestroyingneuralpathwayswhichcanleadtodeepdepressioninlaterlifeandotherdisorders
suchasPTSD(
Neglect:Signs,Symptoms,andEffects
).

ThesecondmostreportedcauseofchildhoodPTSDisphysicalabuse.Physicalabuse
accountsforeighteenpercentofallcasesofreportedabuseaccordingtoChildProtection
ServicesintheUnitedStates.TheAmericanHumaneAssociationdefinesabuseas
nonaccidentaltraumaorphysicalinjurycausedbypunching,beating,kicking,biting,burning
orotherwiseharmingachild.Noteveryonewhosuffersabusewilllaterbediagnosedwith
PTSD.Someofthefactorsthatcanleadtoadiagnosisarehowextremetheabusewasseenby
thevictim,ageofthechild(youngerchildrendonthavethecapacitytotrulyunderstandwhatis
happeningasanolderchildwould),therelationshipofvictimtoabuser(thecloserthe
relationship,thegreatermentalharm),andthelevelofsupportthechildhasinhisorherdaily
life(childrenthathaveastrongsupportnetworkaremoreresilientlaterinlife).Itisalso
importanttonotethatwomenwillexperienceagreaterriskfactorforPTSDwhenabusedasa
child(
Babbel
).

Sexualabuseisthethirdmostcommonlyreportedtypeofabusethatcanpotentiallylead
toPTSD.Childsexualabuseisbroadlydefinedasaneventoreventsthattakeplacebetweena
childandanadult.Theabuseismeanttoarousethepredatorinasexualway.Thisoften

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includesbodilycontact,suchas:kissing,touching,oral/anal/orvaginalsex,butitisimportantto
notethatavictimdoesnthavetobephysicallytouchedforittostillbeconsideredsexualabuse.
Inthesecaseschildrenareexposedtogenitalia,forcedtowatchsexacts,andarephotographed
andthenusedforchildpornography.Itcanbedifficulttodetectsexualabuseinachildbecause
itisoftenkeptinsecretandtheshameandhumiliationandfearofbeingfoundoutcankeepa
youngpersonfromtellingsomeoneabouttheabuse.Somesurvivorsofsexualabusemayexhibit
symptomssuchas:revertingtochildishactionssuchasthumbsuckingand/orbedwetting.
Somechildrenmightalso
actseductiveortheymaynotmaintainsafelimitswithothers.
AccordingtotheU.S.DepartmentofVeteranAffairs,sexualabusecanbeveryconfusingfor
childrenbecausetheyoftenblamethemselves,feelthatsomethingiswrongwiththemandthat
theydeservedwhathappenedtothem.Iftheseissuesarenttreatedearlyon,theonsetofPTSD
canhappenatahigherrate(
ChildSexualAbuse)
.

ThemanifestationofsymptomsinachildwithPTSDmaybeperceivedbycaregiversand
teachersasbadbehavior.Forexample,childrenmighthavephysicaldiscomfortssuchas
feelingskittish,easilyterrified,headaches,stomachaches,minimumagitationtobarbaric
behavior(
PostTraumaticStressDisorderinChildren).Thismightlooklikelackoffocusin
theclassroomornotcaringaboutschool.Oftenadultsmightsuggestachildismakingexcuses
toavoidschoolwork.Further,
childrenalsosustainmental/emotionaleffectsfromPTSDsuchas
refrainingfromcertainplacesorsituationsthatbringbackmemoriesabouttheabusethat
causedthePTSD.Additionally,somechildrenalsohaveahardtimefeelingaffection,sothey
lookforitinthewrongplacesastheygetolderandmayactoutverypromiscuouslyfor

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affection.

Thismayleadbothyoungwomenandmenintoastereotypeofbeingeasyfrom
classmatesandotheradults.Inmanycases,achildwillshowlossofinterestinactivitiesthey
mighthaveenjoyedbefore,somemayalsobehaveinchildishways,includingbedwettingdue
tobaddreamsorfrombeingmentallytraumatised.Sleeppatternsarealsoimpactedwherea
childmightsleeptoomuchortoolittle.Oftenadultsreportchildrenstayingupallnight,not
wantingtogetupforschool,and/orsleepinginschool.Onemightseetheworstformofmental
distressashavingflashbackswhicharebasicallywhensomethingtriggersavictim(including
smell,hear,ortouch)intorememberingtheeventthathappenedandittakethembackandmakes
themfeelliketheyareintheoriginalsituationagainanditisplayingoverandoverintheirhead
(
PostTraumaticStressDisorderinChildren).Ultimately,ifacaregiverorteacherdoesnot
understandthebehaviorsastraumarelated,theymightactuallytriggerthechildintoanegative
spiral.

PTSDinchildrenisalwaysdiagnosedbyamedicalprofessionalthroughapsychological
evaluation.(
PostTraumaticStressDisorderinChildren
).Onceaparentorcaregivernotices
someofthepersistentsymptomsthefirststepistoseekachildpsychiatrist.Accordingto
StanfordChildrensHealth,
Achildpsychiatristorotherqualifiedmentalhealthprofessional
usuallydiagnosesPTSDinchildrenoradolescentsfollowingacomprehensivepsychiatric
evaluation.DiagnosingPTSDearlyonwillhelpensurelessproblemsinthechildsfuture.
However,thereareprecautionsthatcaregiversandparentscantaketosupportachildorteen
goingthroughrecovery.

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Caregiversandparentsshouldmaintainaconsistentscheduleandprovidereassurancefor
childrenandteensdealingwithPTSD.Timecanhelpchildrenhealandeachchildisdifferent
caregiversshouldbecarefulnottorushachildintorecoveryorgetoverit.Partofthehealing
processforchildrenistorealizethattheyarenotatfault.Itisessentialforparentsand
caregiverstoreassurechildrenandteensthattheyareblamelessvictims.Aparentcanalso
bolsterachildssafety,therebyalleviatingthefearthatthismighthappenagain(Resourcesfor
ParentsandCaregivers).Gettingachildquicklybacktohisorherroutinewillalsoaidin
recovery.Allowingchildrentobechildrenanddothingstheylovelikegoingtomoviesand
playingwillhelpthemfeelnormal.Parentsshouldalsowatchforwarningsignsofdepression
andwithdrawingfrompeoplewhenachildspendstoomuchtimeonhisorherown(
Home
ManagementStrategiesforPTSD
).Overall,awarenessofachildsactionsareimportantintheir
mentalhealthandrecovery.

Traditionally,schoolsareaonesizefitsalltheytreatallthechildrenthesame.PTSD
oftenmanifestsitselfininappropriatewaysandchildrenandteensarepunishedandoften
suspendedorexpelledfromschoolwhichnegativelyimpactstheirschoolsuccess.Accordingto
MelindaJohnson,ateacherstates,Wethinkkidsarebehaviorproblems,orthey'renot
interestedinlearning,orthey'renotabletolearn,whenreally,whenyougetdowntothebottom
ofit,there'ssomeexperiencethatthey'vehadthathastakenpriorityovereverythingthat'sgoing
onintheirlife."Infact,TheNationalSurveyofChildren'sExposuretoViolencefoundthat
over60%ofchildrensurveyedexperiencedsomeformoftrauma,crime,orabuseintheprior
year,withsomeexperiencingmultipletraumas(HowDoesTraumaAffectChildren).Schools

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areincreasinglyfindingthattraumacanimpactlearning.AprogramoutofWashingtonState,
CompassionateSchools,hasagoaltosustainschoolsandeducatorsinsupportingstudents
learningbyestablish[ing]environmentsthatwillenablechildrentraumatizedbyexposureto
familyviolencedeveloprelationshipswithcaringadults,learntomodulatetheiremotionsand
behaviors,andachieveathigheducationallevels(
HelpingTraumatizedFamilies
,7).The
schoolsusingthisschoolwidestructurefindthateducatorsarebetterequippedtosupport
studentsoftraumaandtoadvocateforoutsidesupport.Theultimategoalisforschoolsand
parentsandcaregiverstopartnertogethertosupportchildrenoftrauma.

Therearemanydifferentapproachesonecantakefortreatmentforachildwhohas
PTSD,suchascognitivebehavioraltherapy,whichisnotjustforPTSD,butawiderangeof
otherpsychologicaldisorders.Additionally,thereisatherapycalled
StressInoculationTraining
whichteachesthechildandparentorcaregiverabouttheirsymptomsanddifferentcopingskills
tohelpthemthroughouttheday.AnotherapproachonecantakeisCognitiveTherapywhichis
wherethepatientistolearntonoticedifferentprecursorsthatmayinfluencetheirrational
decisionsandemotionalresponsestosituations.Otherstepsonecantakeareaseasyas
relaxationandmedication,althoughthechildmayfeelthatrelaxationisn'tgoingtobehelpfulor
medicationwouldn'teither,butifitsdonetherightway,andonetakesthestepstheyprovide,it
canhelp.Itsimportanttonote,thatthereisn'tnecessarilyamedicationforPTSD,butthereis
medicationforbipolar,anxiety,anddepressionwhichthechildmayexperiencewhiledealing
withPTSD(DepartmentofPsychiatry).Ifcaregiversandteachersareinformedabouttrauma
anditseffectsonchildrenandteens,andearlyandongoingsupportsareprovided,victimsof
traumacanlearncopingmechanismsandgetthehelptheyneedtodevelopandthriveasadults

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survivorsoftrauma.MichaelConnellyoncesaid,youcantpatchawoundedsoulwitha
bandaid,neithercangettingoveritstoptheeffectsofPTSD,butwithtimeonecanlearnto
copeandheal.
WorksCited
Babbel,Susannwe."TheLingeringTraumaofChildAbuse."
PsychologyToday
.Psychology
Today,23Apr.2011.Web.22June2016.
Cole,SusanF.,andJessicaGreenwaldO'Brien."HelpingTraumatizedFamilies."(2012):n.pag.
HelpingTraumatizedChildrenLearn
.HelpingTraumatizedChildrenLearn,2005.Web.
"DefaultStanfordChildren'sHealth."
PostTraumaticStressDisorderinChildren
.Standord
ChildrensHealth,2016.Web.23June2016.
"DepartmentofPsychiatry."
PosttraumaticStressDisorder(Treatment)
.PerelmanSchoolof
MedicineUniversityofPennsylvania,n.d.Web.23June2016.
Hamblen,Jessica,andErinBarnett."PTSD:NationalCenterforPTSD."
PTSDinChildrenand
Adolescents
.USDepartmentofVeteranAffairs,23Feb.2016.Web.22June2016.
"HomeManagementStrategiesforPTSD."
AnxietyBC
.AnxietyBC,31Jan.2013.Web.23June
2016.
"HowDoesTraumaAffectChildren?"
TSA
.TreatmentandServicesAdaptionServices,n.d.
Web.23June2016.
Lubit,RoyH."PosttraumaticStressDisorderinChildren."
:PracticeEssentials,Background,
Pathophysiology
.Medscape,2016.Web.22June2016.
"PostTraumaticStressDisorderinChildren."
HealthEncyclopedia
.UniversityofRochester
MedicalCenter,2016.Web.22June2016.

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"PTSD:NationalCenterforPTSD."
ChildSexualAbuse
.U.S.DepartmentofVeteransAffairs,
2Sept.2015.Web.22June2016.
"PTSD:NationalCenterforPTSD."
PTSDinChildrenandTeens
.USDepartmentofVeteran
Affairs,13Aug.2015.Web.22June2016.
"ResourcesforParentsandCaregivers."
NationalChildTraumaticStressNetwork
.TheNational
ChildTraumaticStressNetwork,n.d.Web.23June2016.
"Signs,SymptomsandEffects."
NSPCC
.NSPCC,2016.Web.22June2016.