Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can happen after a serious traumatic incident or many traumatic events. Any event or incident can be considered traumatic if it is very upsetting, scary, shocking or causes physical or emotional harm directly (to them) or indirectly (to someone else).
Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will experience psychological trauma (or PTSD). People who are traumatised and experiencing PTSD may experience symptoms such as:
Complex PTSD is a more serious reaction to a long-lasting traumatic experience, for example abuse, neglect or frequent violence.
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Video description: Symptoms and Strategies for PTSD in Children and Teens - credit AnxietyBC
Video description: Adverse Childhood Experiences
Video description: Supporting Trauma Recovery
It is important to remember that everyone copes with things differently. If your child is struggling to cope after a traumatic event, it is important to get help, support and advice. Talk to your GP.
There are many strategies and techniques to help your child cope with flashbacks and anxiety if they are experiencing these. Visit the Youth Anxiety BC website and check the anxiety help section on this website.
Some people find it helpful to keep a log of when they experience trauma symptoms (such as flashbacks) to notice if there are patterns or triggers (things or situations that are more likely to make a flashback happen). If your child does this and notices patterns or triggers, this might help them to make a plan of how to manage these situations if they come up.
Having hobbies and interests and spending time with friends can be really helpful when people are experiencing symptoms of trauma as they can be a good distraction. Try to help your child plan regular time to do activities and see friends.
Available literature:
A therapeutic treasure box for working with children and adolescents with developmental trauma by Dr Karen Treisman
Difficult, upsetting or traumatic events and experiences happen to young people. Here’s a guide to help you know how best to support your young person if they are experiencing or have experienced a traumatic event. This is not a complete list; young people will experience other types of distress and symptoms which may not be included on this guide:
Coping/ needs support; These are experiences that most young people will have from time to time.
Type and nature of distress
It is common for children and young people to experience or situations which are distressing, confusing or frightening as they develop through childhood and adolescence. Examples of situations that may cause/ contribute to a young person feeling distressed might be:
What you might see or a young person might report
Things to try, support and next steps
A-Z of coping strategies: https://youtu.be/5EXpkVw3fh
How to make and use a coping box: https://youtu.be/OyfgodSSdV4
Other resources:
Needs help; These are challenges that some young people experience and may need some support with.
Examples of situations or events that may cause/ contribute to a young person feeling distressed might be:
As well as the features in Green, the following might also be present:
As well as the steps in Green the following might be helpful:
How to support a young person with anxiety: https://youtu.be/LMFQHABnH1M
How to support a young person with depression/ in crisis/ who engages in self-harm: https://youtu.be/qBAZQVjSmQU
How to support coping in crisis here: https://youtu.be/qBAZQVjSmQU
Other Resources:
Needs Specialist Treatment or a Crisis Response; These are difficulties that cause a significant impact and a young person may need specialist support.
Despite trying advice in the green and amber stages, the young person still experiences trauma symptoms at least 1 month after the traumatic event. Examples of situations that may cause/ contribute to a young person feeling low in mood or depressed:
As well as the features in Green and Amber, the following might also be present:
As well as the steps in Green and Amber the following might be helpful:
