PTSD And Children
PTSD can develop at any age and younger children may have upsetting dreams of the actual trauma, which then change into nightmares of monsters. They often relive the trauma in their play. For example, a child involved in a serious rail crash might re-enact the crash with toys or draw what happened. They may lose interest in things they used to enjoy and might begin to believe that they will not live long enough to grow up. Children will naturally find it more difficult to put their impressions of the trauma into words, and often develop physical symptoms such as stomach aches and headaches.
It is important to realise that trauma reactions are common, are normal, are temporary if attended to, and can actually lead to positive outcomes. Specialist treatment may well be worthwhile, and ongoing, residual problems should not be tolerated by survivors.
Professor Dr Gordon Turnbull
BSc FRCP FRCPsych FRGS FRSA
Consultant Psychiatrist and Wing Commander RAF ( retired)
Clinical Director of Trauma Services
Consultant Adviser in Psychiatry to the Civil Aviation Authority
Email: gordonturnbull@doctors.org.uk
References
"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - The Invisible Injury" ( 2002). David Kinchin
Successunlimited
"Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society". (1996). Eds. van der Kolk BA, McFarlane AC, & Weisaeth L. Guildford Press. New York , London
"Psychological Trauma: A Developmental Approach". (1997). Eds. Black D, Newman M, Harris-Hendriks J, & Mezey G. London; Gaskell:The Royal College of Psychiatrists