PTSD Symptoms in Children

While it has been said numerous times that children are very resilient. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can still effect them and in different ways than adults.  Some of the most common signs of PTSD taken from the CDC are 

• Reliving the event over and over in thought or in play
• Nightmares and sleep problems
• Becoming very upset when something causes memories of the event
• Lack of positive emotions
• Intense ongoing fear or sadness
• Irritability and angry outbursts
• Constantly looking for possible threats, being easily startled
• Acting helpless, hopeless or withdrawn
• Denying that the event happened or feeling numb
• Avoiding places or people associated with the event

Sometimes these symptoms can be obvious but other times they are not. For example, a child removed from their home by a state agency might've heard a certain song in the car that day and it comes on again now, they may start having behaviors and it could be very hard to identify the trigger. The best advice is to note when these symptoms occur and the surroundings of  that behavior. Children not being raised by their parents have been through a lot and being aware of how that could effect them for the rest of their lives, will be huge for healing.  To learn more about PTSD please visit this website below: