Children Suffer from PTSD, too

The mental health profession has identified and is beginning to work with children who are showing the distinctive signs of post traumatic stress disorder.  The symptoms of this disorder are seen in those children who have experienced and continue to experience similar symptoms as adults who have had significant head trauma and the emotional trauma of war.  The difference is that these children have suffered neither head injuries nor experienced shootings, abuse or other significant events.  No, these children are homeless.

Children attending Caesar Chavez Middle School in California have been the subject of a 10 week-long program, developed by mental health professionals, that is teaching them "mindful behavior."  I have written about the importance of mindfulness in mitigating anxiety, depression and anti-social behavior in prior blogs.  The school principal said that it was the accumulated, everyday things about homelessness that were making the most significant impact on these children...no constant address, nowhere to send school information, no place to socialize with friends, the uncertainty of each day and so on.  Brain scans showed that these children's brains showed the same changes as those of adults who had had brain traumas. 

The children who were interviewed said that they were able to modify their negative reactions and behavior using the techniques that were taught by the psychiatric interns...primarily young men and women (A licensed psychiatrist was in charge of the program and oversaw its administration).  The principal noted that both behavior and academic deficiencies were positively impacted through the use of the mindful techniques. 

PTSD has to be treated; it doesn't simply go away with time.  And, this disorder showing up in our most at-risk population should be taken very, very seriously.  We have no idea what far-reaching consequences on both the affected children and society, in general, this disorder may have in the future.  Again, I recommend the book: Ten Mindful Minutes, by Goldie Hawn, to everyone, especially parents.

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