If your child has experienced a traumatic or highly stressful event, you may see them exhibit some of the following signs:
- Irritability or aggressive behavior
- Talk or play about the event
- Nightmares or sleep disruptions
- Avoiding reminders of the event
- Loss of previously mastered skills
- Difficulty concentrating
Your child is not alone.
A study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress revealed that post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is perhaps more common than you think. Just over eight percent of people in our community will experience PTSD in their lifetimes, 4.7% within the past year, and 3.8% in the past six month period. When we include those who also suffer following significant trauma but don’t fit typical PTSD criteria, the statistics become as worrying as they are staggering.
This means that millions of Americans continue to suffer from the devastating after effects of traumatic experience.
Trauma can alter how the brain functions, and its signs and symptoms can vary from finding it difficult to trust and being constantly on guard, to sudden panic and intrusive, anxiety-ridden thoughts. Trauma, without question, can significantly decrease our quality of life.
And while the signs and symptoms can feel complex and at times overwhelming, feeling better is more than possible. In fact, with trauma therapy, I expect your child will begin feeling better as soon as we begin exploring the trauma, recreating a sense of safety, and allowing your child to feel more empowered.
The sooner we start, the better. Please contact me today for an appointment.