Classroom » Reference
post-traumatic stress disorder
Response to a traumatic event (such as abuse, a car accident, or a natural disaster); may include fear, anger, sadness, denial, and re-experiencing the event.
Additional information
Symptoms of PTSD may abate after several months, but in other cases they last for years. Psychotherapy is likely to be helpful. Associated anxiety and depression may be treated with medication. Children with PTSD may:
- have trouble sleeping
- have psychosomatic stomachaches and headaches
- have angry outbursts
- have difficulty concentrating
- withdraw socially
- regress to behavior they had outgrown
- re-enact the event while playing in ways that are traumatic rather than therapeutic
Adolescents may also engage in risk-taking.
In school. Students with PTSD may find it helpful to:
- talk about their feelings
- express their feelings through writing or drawing
- reenact the event in play
- read books about coping with anxiety or disaster
- develop a sense of mastery over academic material
- know the plan for evacuating the classroom in an emergency
Examples and resources
These websites provide more background information on PTSD:
- The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psyciatry’s article on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
- A factsheet from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs about PTSD in children and adolescents.
The Teacher.net Gazette site provides a guide specifically for teachers of children with PTSD.
