(National Center for PTSD) Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do – Understanding trauma and how you can help your child. (National Center for PTSD), Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do – Understanding trauma and how you can help your child. Call on friends, family members, teachers, coaches, and school counselors. Remember that just because a child has been traumatized or suffers from PTSD, this does not seal his or her fate in being a problem child. Whatever the age of your child, it’s important to offer extra reassurance and support following a traumatic event. This article has been viewed 6,840 times. Focus on overall diet rather than specific foods. Establishing a predictable structure and schedule to your child’s life can help to make the world seem more stable again. By Jamie Howard , Contributor Dec. 16, 2019 By Jamie Howard , Contributor Dec. 16, 2019, at 9:24 a.m. Informational website from U.S. government focused on the understanding and treatment of mental illness. Treatment recommendations may include cognitive b… As much as you can, watch news reports of the traumatic event with your child. While children typically recover quickly from the emotional and physiological sequela of brief episodes of separation, extended separation can exhaust children’s bodies3 and brains4, thus placing them on adverse developmental trajectories. Let them know whenever you do something that could be dangerous to them or yourself that they should follow a set protocol. Even young infants can pick up on their parents’ anxiety and stress. It’s often less traumatizing for a child or teen to read the newspaper rather than watch television coverage or view video clips of the event. Once a child gets moving, they’ll start to feel more energetic. Early relationships have a direct impact on cognitive, social and emotional development. Even young children can use simple breathing exercises to relieve stress and feel more at ease in the world, while older kids may be able to master other relaxation techniques. PTSD is a mental health problem. However, if the traumatic stress reaction is so intense that it interferes with your child’s ability to function at school or home—or if the symptoms don’t begin to fade or even become worse over time—they may need help from a mental health professional. (Child Mind Institute), PTSD in Children and Teens – Fact sheet outlining the causes and treatment. Any presumed assumptions on the part of the article are purely coincidental. Processed and convenience food, refined carbohydrates, and sugary drinks and snacks can create mood swings and worsen symptoms of traumatic stress. The event was not their fault, you love them, and it’s okay for them to feel upset, angry, or scared. All rights reserved. The behavior of children with PTSD can be mistaken for the behavior problems associated with oppositional-defiant disorder or conduct disorder. About one in four children and youth in foster care will experience a specific set of symptoms known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s important to talk—even if it’s not with you. Also watch for changes in school performance and problems with friends. A child's teacher and/or school counselor can play an important role in recognizing and facilitating a child’s recovery from a severe traumatic event. Typical treatment for PTSD involves a combined approach of participating in psychotherapy and taking medications for anxiety or depression. This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD. While most people are able to bounce back from the event after a few days, weeks, or months, others struggle to cope with the experience and the memory of the trauma. 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