Like adults, most children's reactions diminish
over time. Parents and other adults can help the
recovery process in the following ways:
● Keep communicating: talk about what is
happening and how family members feel.This
helps prevent children from feeling alone,
isolated and misunderstood
● Reassure children that they are safe and will be
cared for
● Listen and talk to them about the experience.
Honest, open discussion is best - even very
young children know something has happened.
Like adults, the unknown is often more
frightening than the reality for children
● Some children will need extra encouragement
or special attention, especially at bedtime
● Allow expression of emotions - they are part
of the healing process; support the child and
allow them time to work through it
● Do things as a family and make sure time is
reserved for enjoyable and rewarding
experiences together; shared pleasure carries a
family through many difficulties
● Keep family roles clear. Don't expect children
to take too much responsibility but, equally, do
not become too overprotective.
When To Seek Assistance
Like adults, most children will adapt and grow
through crisis with the love and support of their
family and friends. However, if the child's reactions
are particularly severe or prolonged, or if you have
other concerns about the way your child is reacting
to a traumatic incident, contact someone who is
trained to assess the situation and advise you.
If the following common reactions continue for more
than a few days they should alert parents to the
Posttraumatic
possibility of more serious trauma reactions and the
need for further help: Stress Disorder
● Severe and continued sleep disturbance
● Severe anxiety on separation from loved ones
● Continued fears about things which may remind
the child of the trauma GENERAL INFORMATION
● Behaviour problems at home or school
● Self-doubts, a desire for withdrawal or other
significant changes in emotions or personality
Trauma
● A return to "babyish" behaviour that the child
had grown out of Reactions
If you are concerned, talk to your family doctor,
community health centre or school counsellor.
in Children
You may wish to ask for a referral to a mental health
practitioner who specialises in child trauma.The No 6 in the PTSD series of
department of psychiatry in your local children’s Australian Centre brochures
hospital is also a good source of information, support
and treatment if required.
To find out more about PTSD, other veteran
and military mental health issues or the
Australian Centre, please contact us at:
AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR POSTTRAUMATIC
MENTAL HEALTH (INC.)
A&RMC, 300 Waterdale Road, Heidelberg Heights
3081 AUSTRALIA.
Telephone: (03) 9496 2922
Facsimile: (03) 9496 2830
Email: acpmh-info@unimelb.edu.au
WebSite: www.acpmh.unimelb.edu.au

What is PTSD?
STRESS DISORDER
P OSTTRAUMATIC
(PTSD) is a specific psychological
reaction that may occur in response to
the experience of traumatic events.
It can affect people of any age, culture
or gender. PTSD comprises three groups
of symptoms.The first relates to
re-experiencing the trauma, which can
take the form of repetitive thoughts,
memories and dreams.The second group
involves avoidance of reminders,
withdrawal from social interaction and
difficulty in responding emotionally
to others.The third group involves
heightened arousal, with reduced sleep,
increased jumpiness and prominent anger.
Post Trauma Symptoms
in Children
PTSD may develop in children.Their responses to
trauma may, however, differ in important ways to
those seen in adults. Children may find it difficult to
understand what has happened.They may be unable
to describe how they are feeling and instead may
express themselves in other ways. Children
respond to trauma in a range of ways - there is no
typical or "normal" reaction. Nevertheless, some
responses are common.
The following signs may be seen in children
following trauma, but do not necessarily indicate
the existence of PTSD. Most are normal and will
resolve in time with the help of caring family
members and friends. However, if signs are too
severe or last too long, they may indicate the
need for professional assistance.
RELIVING THE TRAUMA
In traumatised children, reliving may occur in:
● Repetitive play that re-enacts the trauma
● Distressing dreams of the event that may evolve
into general nightmares of monsters or of
threats to self or significant others
● In cases of traumatic loss, children often report
experiencing "ghosts" of loved ones
● Disorganised or agitated behaviour
● Preoccupation with other traumatic events
AVOIDANCE AND NUMBING
While less common in children than in adults, the
following signs may be present:
● Social withdrawal and wanting to be alone
● Loss of interest in significant activities
● A sense of foreshortened future: being unable
to imagine themselves as grown up
● A return to "babyish" behaviour
AROUSAL
Following trauma, children may become tense and
frightened.This may be expressed through:
● Attention and concentration problems
● Clinging, dependent behaviour
● Fearfulness, especially at night or when
separated from parents
● Sleep disturbance and nightmares
● Grizzling, whining and irritability
ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS
Children may develop several associated problems
following trauma, including:
● Aches and pains
● Bed wetting
● General misbehaviour and "naughtiness"
● Tantrums and attention seeking behaviour
● Poor school performance, loss of motivation
● Sometimes, experience of trauma can result in
other problems in the child's development
Occasionally, the onset of these problems may be
delayed until some time after the trauma. Often
these signs are misunderstood - it appears the
child is just being naughty. However, they may be
indicators of a traumatic stress reaction and should
be given careful attention.
How Can You Help?
Parental responses are very important in helping
the child to cope with the aftermath of trauma.
It is important for parents to recognise that the
child's behaviour may be part of a traumatic stress
response, rather than willful behaviour. It is crucial
not to become angry and blame the child for this
behaviour.