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PTSD

PTSD can impact a child's development and rob a them of future opportunities and possibilities. 

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Understanding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) is critical to helping the most vulnerable part of the community. 

What is PTSD

As the name suggests, post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, develops after a traumatizing event is experienced, fragmenting an individual's ability to cope with the situation or associated triggers that remind the individual of the event. What follows is a series of symptoms characteristic of the disorder that can haunt the individual and those that care for that person.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is an intense emotional and/or physical response to thoughts or reminders of a traumatic event that may last for months or longer after exposure to the trauma. The trauma can be something directly experienced or simply something relayed to an individual.

Exposure comes in at least one of the following ways:

  1. A direct experience to the traumatic event(s)

  2. Personally witnessing the event(s) occurring to others

  3. Learning the traumatic event(s) happened to a close family member or close friend

  4. Repeated exposure to adverse details of traumatic event(s)

Doctor and Patient

Symptoms

Understanding PTSD

Symptoms will persist for longer than a month and include the following categories of symptoms:

  • Re-experiencing: flashbacks, nightmares, physiologic responses

  • Avoidance: withdrawal from activities

  • Negative Feelings: self blame or loathing

  • Arousal: being easily startled or "jumpy", irritable, difficulty focusing or concentrating

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Statistically, 9 out of 100 youth will be diagnosed with PTSD, with rates being higher in more vulnerable populations such as immigrants and refugees. PTSD can lead to poor academic/job performance, further mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, increased drug and alcohol use/abuse, decreased financial stability, and social isolation.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)

Events that subject a child to trauma are expressed as Adverse Childhood Experiences and with each event experienced the likelihood of future mental and behavioral health problems increases. Each event presents a stress the child must internalize and attempt to deal with and understand. Under prolonged exposure to toxic stress the neural networks of adolescent individuals can undergo pathway reorganization leading to lifelong physiologic and mental changes.

The more frequent or longer the exposure to situations of stress the greater likelihood of  substance abuse or development of mental health disorders.

Abuse

Physical, Sexual, Emotional

Neglect

Failure to meet basic physical and emotional needs

Household challenges

Witnessing family member violence, substance abuse, or exposure to mental health disorders. Also to include family member loss or prolonged separation from a close family member.

There are other events that can challenge the coping strategies of children. Events such as bullying, poverty, food scarcity, community violence, and living in an unsafe environment are just some examples that also contribute to ACE. Again, the greater number of experiences a child is subjected to the greater risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory illnesses. Those with four or more events are at a much higher risk for developing riskier behaviors and falling into abusive practices of drugs and relationships

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