Spidy
10-01-2007, 06:29 PM
Parents and students
Communication is key. If parents are not already aware of trauma symptoms and how to communicate with their children about them, they should seek resources to help. The school should be able to help parents with this. As with schools, parents should give their children ways to express their emotions. They should be loving and reassuring. They should be ready to answer questions. They should let their children know that their emotions are OK.
Students should take advantage of the resources offered to them. If you feel that your parents aren't listening, then talk to your teachers, the staff, or the counselors available.
Nothing you are feeling after the incident is strange or bad, and you will feel better by talking about it. Express your emotions through writing, artwork, talking or any other activity that brings you comfort. Do not feel guilty for getting on with your life and enjoying activities with your friends.
Post-traumatic stress disorder - PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that may develop following a terrifying event. It is characterized by persistent frightening thoughts and memories of the ordeal. People with the condition may relive the trauma through nightmares or flashbacks, and they may have sleep problems, feel numb or detached, and be easily startled. They may also become depressed and experience prolonged grief.
Not everyone who experiences or witnesses a traumatic event will develop PTSD. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), "It is more common for a traumatized child or adolescent to have some of the symptoms of PTSD than to develop the full-blown disorder." People with PTSD symptoms and full-blown PTSD require treatment because the disorder can become debilitating.
PTSD symptoms might not occur directly following the incident. Anniversaries of violent incidents may result in the onset of PTSD symptoms.
Teachers and parents should be aware of the following symptoms of PTSD:
flashbacks (reliving the incident)
nightmares
reactions to events that symbolize the incident
avoidance of reminders of the incident
lack of interest in former pleasurable activities
irritability
sleep disturbances
poor concentration
startle reactions
PTSD is treatable, and help should be sought if symptoms are suspected, preferably from someone specifically trained to deal with PTSD. Methods used to treat PTSD include therapy and, sometimes, medications. More about PTSD may be found in What is PTSD? thread.
Violence in Society
School shootings and bomb threats are not the only violence today's youth must face. Inner-city youth witness violence frequently. Other youths witness or experience violence at home. Plane crashes, natural disasters and auto accidents also produce traumatic stress reactions. Parents and adults working with youth should understand the implications of violence in the lives of today's young people. By coping today, the future promises to be bright.
thanks,
spidy.
Communication is key. If parents are not already aware of trauma symptoms and how to communicate with their children about them, they should seek resources to help. The school should be able to help parents with this. As with schools, parents should give their children ways to express their emotions. They should be loving and reassuring. They should be ready to answer questions. They should let their children know that their emotions are OK.
Students should take advantage of the resources offered to them. If you feel that your parents aren't listening, then talk to your teachers, the staff, or the counselors available.
Nothing you are feeling after the incident is strange or bad, and you will feel better by talking about it. Express your emotions through writing, artwork, talking or any other activity that brings you comfort. Do not feel guilty for getting on with your life and enjoying activities with your friends.
Post-traumatic stress disorder - PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that may develop following a terrifying event. It is characterized by persistent frightening thoughts and memories of the ordeal. People with the condition may relive the trauma through nightmares or flashbacks, and they may have sleep problems, feel numb or detached, and be easily startled. They may also become depressed and experience prolonged grief.
Not everyone who experiences or witnesses a traumatic event will develop PTSD. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), "It is more common for a traumatized child or adolescent to have some of the symptoms of PTSD than to develop the full-blown disorder." People with PTSD symptoms and full-blown PTSD require treatment because the disorder can become debilitating.
PTSD symptoms might not occur directly following the incident. Anniversaries of violent incidents may result in the onset of PTSD symptoms.
Teachers and parents should be aware of the following symptoms of PTSD:
flashbacks (reliving the incident)
nightmares
reactions to events that symbolize the incident
avoidance of reminders of the incident
lack of interest in former pleasurable activities
irritability
sleep disturbances
poor concentration
startle reactions
PTSD is treatable, and help should be sought if symptoms are suspected, preferably from someone specifically trained to deal with PTSD. Methods used to treat PTSD include therapy and, sometimes, medications. More about PTSD may be found in What is PTSD? thread.
Violence in Society
School shootings and bomb threats are not the only violence today's youth must face. Inner-city youth witness violence frequently. Other youths witness or experience violence at home. Plane crashes, natural disasters and auto accidents also produce traumatic stress reactions. Parents and adults working with youth should understand the implications of violence in the lives of today's young people. By coping today, the future promises to be bright.
thanks,
spidy.