Children can get stressed too! Understanding PTSD, a mental disorder.. after experiencing severe trauma in life

Understanding and Knowing PTSD

PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) is a disorder that occurs after traumatic stress. It is an emotional disorder that arises after experiencing violent events. It can occur both directly and indirectly, meaning it happens to those who have personally experienced the traumatic event, those who were present and witnessed the traumatic event directly, or close relatives of the victims who have learned detailed information about the event, leading to stress and certain behaviors that affect daily life. Those who suffer psychological trauma from these events need treatment.

When Children Have PTSD

Dr. Chonnipa Butwong, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, explains that the difference between PTSD in children and adults lies in communication and expression. When this condition occurs in adults, symptoms are straightforward and can be clearly observed through behavior, and adults can explain their thoughts, visions, or feelings.

However, when PTSD occurs in children, although physical expressions may be similar to adults, communication and explanation of symptoms are quite difficult for children because they do not understand the disorder, do not understand their own condition, and do not know how to express their symptoms. Therefore, parents may diagnose the disorder by observing the child’s behavior, which often shows a loss of previously acquired developmental skills and reduced interaction with others.

Recognizing Symptoms of PTSD Patients

Those who have experienced traumatic events will show symptoms in 2 stages:

• Stage 1 occurs within 1 month after the event, called Acute Stress Disorder (ASD). Patients in the ASD stage may recover on their own or have no symptoms in the first month. However, if symptoms persist after 1 month, it is called PTSD.
• Stage 2 is after 1 month from the event, called PTSD, which may show symptoms in 3 major groups:
  • Re-experiencing the event (re-experiencing)

Survivors of events such as disasters, floods, earthquakes, escaping war, or fleeing from attackers may still feel as if the event is happening again, feel like they are reliving the event, become startled or scared, or see images of the event when closing their eyes.

• • Excessive arousal (hyperarousal)

For patients with this disorder, even though the frightening event has passed, the body remains on high alert, causing feelings of restlessness, fidgeting, palpitations, being easily startled, poor concentration, and becoming easily stressed by ordinary matters, especially when something triggers memories of the event.

• • Avoiding triggers that remind them of the event (avoidance) or emotional numbness (emotional numbing)

Many people try to avoid talking about or thinking about the frightening event, such as survivors of disasters who avoid watching related news on television or avoid going to the places where the event occurred because seeing these triggers increases their anxiety.

Additionally, PTSD patients may have other symptoms such as depression, blaming themselves for causing the event, feeling guilty for surviving (survivor guilt), anxiety, obsessive thoughts, increased alcohol consumption to relieve anxiety, irritability, self-harm, or suicide attempts.

How to Recover from PTSD

• Psychological Therapy

Children with PTSD often avoid to protect themselves from painful and uncomfortable feelings that affect their daily life, making it seem like they have no symptoms and thus do not receive therapy. Treatment involves providing mental health education, physical and emotional relaxation, gradually exposing the child to feared situations while training them to build psychological stability, then changing anxious thoughts and teaching emotional management. For children, art therapy such as drawing or coloring may be used to express feelings, and children can share their stories if they wish, without being pressured to repeat the story if they do not feel safe enough.

At the same time, sessions are arranged for parents to participate because parents play a crucial role in helping children recover from PTSD. If parents understand these symptoms, they can assist children in adapting, making them feel secure, reducing stress triggers, and being a source of support when children feel anxious and need help.

• Medication

In addition to psychological therapy, psychiatrists may prescribe antidepressants. These medications take about 2-3 weeks to start working and must be taken continuously alongside psychotherapy.