Children with PTSD

Do you know someone who suffers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Or do you think you may have it? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, "is an anxiety disorder that some people get after seeing or living through a dangerous event.

When in danger, it’s natural to feel afraid. This fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to prepare to defend against the danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a healthy reaction meant to protect a person from harm. But in PTSD, this reaction is changed or damaged. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they’re no longer in danger." ( National Institute of Mental Health)

It is very difficult for children that have PTSD because they can be misunderstood often times. They clearly regress into younger years and can revert back to days of infancy. The presentations can expose itself in many different ways, sadness, anger, nervousness, jumpiness, bed wetting, night sweats, reliving the event that caused fear and harm and so on.

As a mother of two children who have PTSD, I know how helpless a parent can feel, the shear frustration and the rollercoaster of emotions is horrific in itself. In my children's case, a boy whom is now 12 and a daughter who will be 11 in 2 weeks, they present very differently.

My son, a very shy and quiet boy, very athletic and also very caring has reacted in anger and in physical ways ( throwing things, gestures, damaging some of his things). He also has pulled away from me as he blames me for his personal injury because I was not there. He has periods of deep sadness and fear. He has withdrawn himself from family and he suffers a lot in silence. His grades have spiraled down and he does not care, he has frequent nightmares and night sweats. Panic attacks and sudden feelings of doom.

My daughter is a very outgoing young girl, always wanting to be a part of something. She was hurt worss and she has regressed into frequent tantrums, bed wetting, severe sadness and depression, bouts of anger and feeling that she will never be normal again. Frequent panic attacks and is afraid to be in her bedroom alone. She has not slept with out me for over a year!

Heart breaking to say the least as a mom and Life Coach who specializes in anxiety disorders, that I am helpless. I have tried all my techniques, but I am just too close to the situation. These two children attended an Indoor water park last February, where the chlorine levels were 40 and 50 times the normal level and they suffered from 2nd degree burns covering their bodies in entirety. Along with heart issues, asthma and chronic joint pain and chronic skin rashes that burn and itch and form blisters.

These children cannot go swimming like they used to love to do, in a chlorinated pool or ocean. They have had to discontinue soccer, track, Cross Country, gymnastics due to adverse reactions.

If you are parent and you think your child may be suffering with PTSD, it is not something that only war veterans suffer from. It can affect anyone at any age. Seek the help they need and always try to remain positive, although it is hard at times and your emotions can run high, please for your kids sake, don't let them see you hurting as well.

My children do see a professional psychologist and cognitive behavior therapy is helpful. In my experience, gaining trust back in the medical profession would be an improvement for my children.

Try not to beat yourself up as a parent, no matter what your expertise, a parent is too close and too emotionally involved. It takes time, but seeking professional help does make a difference. Never be afraid to ask!

Kristen L. Baker, M.L.C.,M.S.L.C.,Wellness Coach
www.lifecoachingforyou.net

Tips to Overcome Obsessions

Today is a great day to write about obsessions. Yes, even I have an obsession.....I have to vacuum daily and I cannot have any items on my counter tops. As I think back to last week, which was a whirlwind week for me, many functions to cater, clients to coach and a friend of the family's funeral, but I still had to vacuum each say before I left the house. I had voiced my frustration to my dad about my being so anal about this. I told him it was causing me stress, but I have to have my house clean.

I started thinking about the WHY? After much thought, I found the why. Why do I have to have my house so clean and vacuum and have empty counters? My pride of ownership! It took a lot of work to have the house I have and I want it to look nice and be proud of it. There is no real obsession, it is pride. I also have 3 dogs that make it nearly impossible not to vacuum daily, all in all, it is due to the want to have things look nice.
The problem I have with this, however, is that my house does not look lived in, therefore, losing that comfort that I strive for. Everyday, I look around and ask myself, what can I do to cozy it up? I will figure it out someday.

There is a difference between my cleanliness and someone who is obsessing and repetitively doing the same thing over and over again. For example, germs, those nasty things that we can never be completely free of, no matter what we do. There are millions of people out there that wash there hands over and over again until they crack and bleed, just out of pure fear of getting ill.

This is not rational, productive or a good use of one's time. Tips for trying to ward off germs is to:

• Wash your hands after you go to the bathroom
• Wash your hands before eating
• Wash your hands or use sanitizer after shopping
• Cover your mouth when you cough
• Do not visit friends when they are sick
• Don't put your hands in your mouth

Repetitively washing hands does not prevent germs from being passed on, it is all in one's mind. Washing hands after the things listed above is sufficient.

There was a former client of mine who always had to go back into her house to make sure the stove was shut off. She would come in from outside and check and go back out and come back in. Time consuming at the very least. So many of the obsessions that we have are due to a lack of trust or confidence in ourselves.

• Learn to relax
• If there are certain ritualistic things you do daily, change the routine
• Make a check list of things to check before you leave the House and bring it with you when you leave to assure yourself it is checked.
• Don't worry so much.

I am going to be writing more on this topic as OCD is prevalent and it does not have to be.

Take time to relax and trust yourself!