Clinical reports suggest that elementary school-aged children may not experience visual flashbacks or amnesia for aspects of the trauma. However, they do experience "time skew" and "omen formation," which are not typically seen in adults. Time skew refers to a child mis-sequencing trauma related events when recalling the memory. Omen formation is a belief that there were warning signs that predicted the trauma. As a result, children often believe that if they are alert enough, they will recognize warning signs and avoid future traumas.
Source: Veterans Administration: National Center for PTSD PTSD in Children and Adolescents
Related Resources:
- Help Your Child Cope with Anxiety
Strategies for parents to cope with children's anxiety and improve well-being at home and school.
Help Your Child Cope with Stress and Trauma
Parenting strategies to help children cope with stress and traumatic events.
Help Your Child Cope with Depression
Parenting strategies to help children cope with depression.
How to Handle Children's Anger
Children commonly react to stress and trauma with angry episodes. These links will give you ideas for handling your child's anger.
How to Handle Children's Aggression
A child with PTSD from witnessing or experiencing violence or abuse in his life will likely show aggressive behavior.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Net Links
Additional resources for parents of children with depressive disorder.
Elsewhere on the Web:
Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
What the professionals use to diagnose this disorder. BehaveNet Clinical Capsules
Related Terms