Children's Psychological Education
A Guide To Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) In Children & Young People
What is a traumatic experience?
Let us help you to put the pieces together.
What is a traumatic experience?
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Something you have experienced or seen that was very upsetting, scary and terrifying.
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Something that has threatened or caused danger to you or someone you love.
There is a difference between an event or situation that has been upsetting and sad for us, to one that has been scary and terrifying, this would be called “traumatic”.
What is PTSD?
PTSD happens when a traumatic experience keeps bothering you. You might think about it when you don't want to, this can make you feel sad, frightened, angry, or confused and make you feel too many feelings in one go. This is normal but it would be good to tell someone so they can help you.
What does PTSD feel like?
This is a completely normal reaction to upsetting, scary and frightening events.
Sometimes, when something reminds you of the traumatic event, you might experience some of the terrifying feelings straight away, like an instant reaction that feels out of control. You might feel this as a strong feeling of fear or anger; it might be felt in your body as a physical symptom like a tight chest or shortness of breath.
Common Symptoms of PTSD by age group
INFANT
CHILDREN
YOUNG PEOPLE
Are you scared of strangers or when mummy/daddy drops you at playschool?
Do some people or places make you feel scared and not want to go?
Have you trouble sleeping?
Do you find yourself drawn to pictures or objects that are about the event?
Do you repeat the subject of the event in play?
Do you struggle with the order of the event when talking about it?
Do you believe there were warning signs?
Are you reckless in behaviour or do you take risks that could put you in danger?
Have you problems with your self image
Have you found concentrating difficult?
Do play situations, artwork or stories seem to be about the event?
Is your behaviour impulsive and dangerous?
Are you not sleeping or having nightmares?
Are your thoughts about revenge?
Do you feel numb?
Are you having troubled thoughts about life?
Re-enactment of event: Are you bringing aspects of the event into daily life?
What Causes PTSD in Children and Young People?
THE GOOD
THE BAD
THE UGLY
•Moving up a grade
•Graduation
•Getting into the school musical or play
•Meeting new friends
•Having a new boyfriend
•New School
•New Sister or Brother
•Too Busy
•Hard Classes
•Moving
•Arguing with brothers or sisters
•A person or group making you do something you dont want to do
•Bad Teacher
•Natural Disasters
•Car Accident
•Family Verbal/Physical Violence
•Someone touched you somewhere you didnt like
•Death of a Family Member
•Divorce
•Bullying
•Internet Grooming
Almost half of all boys and girls will experience a traumatic event, most will feel better after a few weeks but sometimes, a small number of boys and girls will develop PTSD.
When there is danger, the amygdala comes to our rescue, but in doing this is stops talking to the prefrontal cortex and information cannot be stored properly by the hippocampus. It also instructs our body to release two stress hormones of cortisol, to increase our blood sugar, and adrenalin to increase our heart rate, so we can react to the dangerous situation.
After a traumatic experience the amygdala can become sensitive and can come to the rescue even when there is no danger. This can cause too much of the stress hormones to be released in the body and reduces our ability to manage stress.
The amygdala didn’t know there was no need to come to the rescue until it was too late and the moments passed. If this keeps happening it can cause many physical symptoms and emotional feelings.
How does Trauma impact the young mind and body?
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Changes our brain’s development effecting this and higher functions of the brain, increasing risk of PTSD in adulthood(32, 33)
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Creates a bigger risk of long term illness and disease
The main parts of the brain responsible for our reactions are the
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Amygdala
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Hippocampus
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Prefrontal Cortex
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Together these form “The Limbic System” controlling our emotional response to a situation. The hippocampus is important for memory
KIDNET, has been designed for young children who have experienced traumatic situations, like you.
Trauma Focussed CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) – another set of big adult words, but don’t be worried, this is adapted to suit your age group.
EMDR, stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, however, someone just like you calls it Eye Moving to Digest and Recover.(30) All it means is that the therapist will ask you to move your eyes in a special way.
Here is a list of emotions to help you identify your emotions.
Ways to feel better and relax.
If one doesn’t work for you, try another until you find the ones that make you feel good.
Laugh with friends and family, they can say some funny things!
Deep Breathing:
This is a great way to feel better, breath in slowly for a count of three and then breath our for a count of three. Listen to your breathing – and you will find you are becoming calmer and relaxed.
Visualisation, (Imagining):
Imagine your favourite place or something happy & fun. Imagining colours such as those in a rainbow can also be helpful and can help you to feel more calm and relaxed.
Listen to Music or Watch a Funny Movie
Listen to your favourite songs to feel better, why not have a dance to help you feel happy.
Guide for parents, guardians & carers
Your parents, guardians or carers can help by:
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Allowing you to talk about the event at your own speed.
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Reassuring you that your feelings are understandable and normal.
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Letting you have control over some part of the day, so you feel that you have some influence to effect things that happen around you.
