Do you know what are the complications of post-traumatic stress disorder in children?
What is post-traumatic stress disorder in children?
Post-traumatic stress disorder in children (PTSD) is a psychological condition that affects a child as a result of exposure to a traumatic incident or violent situation such as exposure to wars, accidents, natural disasters, sexual and physical violence, or the sudden loss of a loved one, which results in a negative impact on the child that includes a group of psychological and behavioral symptoms that we learn about later.
Causes of post-traumatic stress disorder in children
The most prominent causes of post-traumatic stress disorder in children are:
- Emotional and physical neglect by parents and failure to meet the child’s basic needs of love and attention.
- Exposure to physical or sexual violence, which results in painful psychological and behavioral symptoms.
- Sudden loss of a dear and close person due to death or separation of parents.
- Exposure to wars and armed conflicts, such as bombing and continuous displacement.
- Being in an unstable environment and making the child always feel unsafe.
- Exposure to natural disasters, which causes severe fear and anxiety.
- Watching shocking events on mobile phones, such as horrific accidents.
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in children
Symptoms of PTSD in children are divided into physical, behavioral, and psychological, and include:
- Physical symptoms:
They include nocturnal urination, sleep disturbances, persistent headaches, unexplained body aches, rapid heartbeat due to fear, abdominal pain, excessive sweating, and loss of appetite. - Psychological symptoms:
The most important of them are constant stress and fear, feelings of anxiety, sadness and depression, loss of self-confidence, frequent crying spells, and a constant feeling of guilt and shame. - Behavioral symptoms:
It is one of the most serious symptoms of the disorder, as it includes social isolation, excessive attachment to family, avoidance of talking about the trauma, delay in school performance, and some cases tend towards violence and aggression.
Read also: How does it affect? PTSD on your life؟ الأسباب والعلاج
Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in children
Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in children depends on accurate diagnosis and knowledge of the causes of the disorder, and includes several axes, including:
Drug treatment:
Some doctors resort to treatment with medications as a start to the treatment journey, and the most prominent medications that doctors recommend to the child are SSRIs, which are taken in small doses with constant medical follow-up, and are used only in cases of severe anxiety and depression accompanying the disorder and with severe sleep disorders.
Psychological and behavioral therapy:
Psychological and behavioral therapy is the basis for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and includes many internationally accredited programs such as:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT):
It is the most effective treatment ever and includes psychological sessions that help the child learn about new ideas and concepts to deal with his inner feelings and feelings related to trauma, and he also learns new ways to deal with fear and anxiety properly. - Play therapy:
Through some games as a way to relieve the child's negative feelings, it is a very fun and interesting way for younger children who cannot speak. - العلاج الأسري:
It includes supporting and educating the family on how to deal with the sick child and contain him after the trauma. This treatment aims to improve the relationship between families and their children. - Exposure therapy:
It includes gradually exposing the child to situations similar to what caused him trauma and learning how to deal with them correctly through emotional and behavioral control sessions.
Book your consultation now at Well-being center At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.
The Rafah Psychiatry Center affiliated with Al Mousa Specialist Hospital helps educate families about the details of the disease and how to deal with a child who is going through trauma and its consequences through a specialized team that includes the best doctors and specialists in the Arab world and adopts the latest psychological and behavioral programs to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in children.
Activating the role of the family
The role of the family is very important in the treatment journey and is an essential part of the success of treatment, so the family must do the following with a PTSD patient:
- Providing a stable and safe environment for the child.
- Containing the sick child and enhancing the feeling of safety and love.
- Show love and care for the child without pressuring him to talk about what is inside him.
- Always listen to him and fully understand his feelings without mocking him or shouting at him and adopting a policy of harsh punishment.
What are the complications of PTSD in children?
When treatment is neglected or the matter is not taken seriously, complications of post-traumatic stress disorder appear in children, the most serious of which are:
- Sadness develops into a serious state of anxiety or chronic depression.
- Failure in social relationships, making it difficult for the child to form healthy relationships with others.
- Exposure to multiple problems at school, whether educationally or dealing with colleagues.
- Engaging in risky behaviors such as self-harm, skipping school, or using substances.
- A constant feeling of guilt and shame, especially when the child believes that he is the cause of accidents or problems that occur.
- The development of the psychological state and the emergence of other disorders such as general anxiety and antisocial personality disorder.
Learn: How Treatment of anxiety disorders in children And 5 tips for parents
متى يجب زيارة الطبيب؟
In the event that strange behavioral and psychological symptoms appear and continue for long periods with a noticeable decline in the child’s growth and behavior, his distancing himself from any family gatherings or social events, and a decline in his academic level at school, then you must visit a psychiatrist immediately to begin appropriate psychological and behavioral treatment.
Post-traumatic stress disorder in children may seem painful to the child and the parents, but the Rafah Psychiatric Center was able to treat many cases through cooperation with families and providing an integrated psychological and behavioral medical service, which made the treatment journey an enjoyable and successful experience and was able to build bridges of communication with the families to correct some misconceptions and restore family warmth.
Frequently asked questions
Below we answer the most common questions about PTSD in children:
How does PTSD appear in children?
Post-traumatic stress disorder appears in children in their behavior and dealings with others. It appears in the child’s intellectual level in addition to his academic level, causing his concentration to decrease and all aspects of his life to be affected.
How do I know that my child has experienced trauma?
When you notice behavioral and psychological changes in your child, with him entering into bouts of intense fear, anger, and continuous crying that affect his educational and social level, know that your child has been exposed to a shock.
What are the symptoms of childhood trauma?
The most important symptoms of childhood trauma are fear, excessive anxiety, feelings of guilt or shame, loss of pleasure, a tendency toward isolation and loneliness, and sometimes aggressive behavior appears in the child.
What are the stages of post-traumatic stress?
There are many stages of post-traumatic stress, including the stage of astonishment, then the stage of denial, then remembering and emotional suffering, then the stage of avoiding others and withdrawing.
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