HELPING YOUR CHILD COPE WITH TRAUMATIC EVENTS

Children react to trauma and stress differently, based on personality, age and circumstances. After a catastrophic event, like those which took place at he World Trade Center and the Pentagon, it is expected that children will be fearful, sad, or apprehensive. Most children recover from their feelings of fear in a short time.

Children need support from parents and teachers to help them deal with their emotions. Parents should decide how much information their child can handle, based on age, any previous traumas experienced and maturity level. According to Rachel Yehuda, Ph.D. of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, parents should explain the event as well as they can without using technical language or euphemisms, listen to the child to determine what is bothering him/her, and answer the child's questions. Do not give more information that the child asks for. If older children or teenagers want to watch the news reports about a traumatic event, watch with them and be there for discussions about what they are seeing. With children and adolescents it is important to:

• Reassure them that everything will be okay, that they and their loved ones are safe.
• Let them know that it is normal to feel upset after something bad happens.
• Encourage questions and discussion, let them know that they can be open about what they are feeling.
• Answer questions honestly.
• Protect them from what they do not need to know.
• Avoid discussing worst-case scenarios.
• Stick to the daily routine as much as possible to give children a sense of normalcy.

Most children and teenagers will recover from their fear. If, after a month, a child is still showing signs of distress, professional help may be indicated. Signs of distress include:

• Not sleeping or eating,
• Clinginess,
• Re-experiencing the event through nightmares, recollections or play,
• Avoidance of things that remind the child of the event,
• Emotional numbing - a lack of feeling about the event,
• Jumpiness,
• Persistent fears about disaster.

Children who have trouble getting beyond their fears may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. If a child or adolescent is experiencing the above symptoms seek the assistance of a school counselor or other metal health professional.

The ADAA can help you find a mental health professional, go to www.adaa.org/forprofessionals/therapists/searchthetherapistlist/ Below is a list of sites where additional information on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be found:

• Anxiety Disorders Association of America
For information on PTSD, www.adaa.org/aboutanxietydisorders/ptsd
For information of children and anxiety, www.adaa.org/aboutanxietydisorders/childrenandadolescents

• National Institute of Mental Health: Helping Children and adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters
www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/violence.cfm

• The PTSD Alliance
www.ptsdalliance.org

•International Society for Traumatic Stress
www.istss.org