Symptoms of PTSD in children (also referred to more broadly as “childhood traumatic stress”) typically fall into four major categories:
- Traumatic Repetitions
- Traumatic play
- Play reenactment
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks and dissociation
- Distressed when reminded
- Somatic (bodily) complaints when reminded
- Avoidance & Fear
- Avoids thinking or talking about event
- Avoids reminders of event (people, places, and things)
- Impaired recollection or memory
- New fears (e.g., separation, being alone, darkness)
- Sense of a foreshortened future or impending doom
- Increased arousal
- Nightmares or night terrors
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Decreased attention or concentration
- Hyperactivity
- Irritability and changes in mood
- Increased aggression
- Hypervigilance and exaggerated startle response
- Decreased responsiveness numbing & regression
- Diminished interest in play and normal activities
- Social withdrawal, peer difficulties or feelings of detachment and isolation
- Restricted range of emotion
- Developmental regression
These symptoms can be very concerning and interfere with normal day-to-day functioning. If a child experiences any of these symptoms for many weeks and months after the traumatic event, the parent/caregiver should seek help from a professional.