About Psychological Trauma (PTSD)

What is trauma?

Trauma simply means injury. This could be physical or psychological. Psychological trauma is sometimes referred to as an “invisible wound”. Psychological trauma is an emotional response caused by severe distressing events such as accidents, violence, or rape.

What is PTSD?

When something traumatic happens, our minds and brains can be overwhelmed and not cope well for a time. Some of the pictures, sounds, smells and feelings of the traumatic events get ‘stuck’ in our minds as if they were still happening. The brain has not been able to understand and process what happened so the event cannot be turned into normal memories - memories of something awful, but an event that is finished, in the past. So with PTSD we feel and behave as if the awful events are still happening, or may happen again at any moment.

Everyone feels scared and may have nightmares after a traumatic event but people respond in different ways. Many people recover and cope. They feel OK again after a few weeks. But for some people, the nightmares, sense of terror, and feeling that the traumatic event is still happening goes on and on. This is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is a mental health disorder. It may last for months or years.

Can you recover from PTSD?

Yes, with the right support. People who have been traumatised need careful help to understand what is causing their distress, and to process the traumatic events into memories so that they can be stored in the brain with other normal memories. They need to see that these events have happened in the past and are over. They may need help to practise things that they have not been able to do because of their PTSD. Then they can get on with normal life again. They can remember the traumatic events, but without symptoms of trauma. With good support from family and school or friends, some people with PTSD can slowly recover. But many people with PTSD need specialist help from a trained trauma therapist to recover.

Treatment for children with PTSD

Children often cannot talk about what happened to them. But they can be helped to sort out, tell or show and then process their ‘story’ by specialist trauma counsellors, skilfully using art, play and singing, with a treatment called ‘CATT’ (Children’s Accelerated Trauma Technique). CATT is used successfully in many countries in the world. For help and advice, refer to the nearest CATT counsellor or a hospital mental health unit for specialist support.

REMEMBER: With adequate treatment, children with PTSD recover and live a normal life.

What are the main signs of PTSD?

• Re-living parts of the traumatic events in nightmares and flashbacks. Flashbacks may be triggered by anything that reminds them of the traumatic event. Memories of the event may be confused or patchy.

• Feeling terrified even though nothing scary is actually happening now.

• Trying to avoid the awful memories.

• Being unable to talk or hear about the event, or go to any place or situation that reminds us of it.

• Changes in feelings, mood and emotions. Seeming very numb, and not reacting much to things, or reacting very strongly.

• Not seeming able to feel happy or excited, yet getting very angry over little things.

• Feeling sad, unhappy, anxious and fearful, as if bad things are going to keep on happening.

• Being hyper-alert as if looking out for danger.

• Being easily startled and jumpy.

• Having difficulty concentrating on school work or activities.

• Angry outbursts, irritability and aggressive behaviour are common especially in children.

Young children with PTSD

Young children with PTSD have nightmares and disturbed sleep. They often lose interest in activities, play and socialising. When playing, they may repeat the same actions again and again. Some children seem to ‘shut down’ - they become really quiet and withdrawn. Children are more likely to develop PTSD after traumatic events than adults. PTSD can have a terrible effect on a child’s life, leading to poor learning, problems with relationships and friendships, poor self-esteem, and poor mental health when an adult.

Older children, teens and adults with PTSD

Older children, teens and adults with PTSD may take alcohol or drugs. These can seem to help deaden feelings and memories, but of course bring added problems.

Other mental health problems are common with PTSD too, including depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, ADHD, self-harming behaviour and thoughts of suicide. Some of the symptoms (for instance, being easily startled and having mood swings with aggression) can lead to the person being seen as a trouble-maker, and to conflict with authorities and the police.

What are some of the causes of PTSD?

• Serious accidents

• Child abuse (physical, emotional, sexual)

• Domestic violence

• Torture

• Death of someone close to you

• Threat to your life

• Kidnapping

• War and conflict

• Bullying

• Neglect

• Painful and frightening medical procedures

• Natural disasters (flood, fire, mud-slides)

Remembering and telling the truth about terrible events are essential for the restoration of social order and the healing of individuals.

What are some examples of what PTSD looks like?

😡 Jacob is often drunk. He gets into fights with other teenagers. He is silent and moody but can suddenly be aggressive, and people are scared of him. Some say he has been possessed. His mother does not understand what has happened to her loving son. He has changed so much since he came back from fighting with soldiers in the bush. Jacob has told her that his visions and dreams are sometimes so bad he just wants to die. The healer and the priest have tried but they have not been able to help him.

😩 Asha’s aunt is really worried about her niece who screams and cries in her sleep. She will not leave the house on her own, so she often does not go to school. She crouches down with her hands over her head, or runs out when anyone shouts, and she trembles if a strange man comes near the house. She talks in a whisper and does not smile. The aunt thinks this is because Asha was kidnapped and violated two years ago, but Asha will not talk about what happened and her aunt does not know how to help her.

🤕 Peter and his friend were involved in a road accident. Peter spent several months in hospital but made a good physical recovery. But his friend died from his injuries. Soon after coming home, Peter’s behaviour changed. He started getting into fights at school and did not pay attention in class. When he heard the sound of an engine, he panicked and could not move or think. His teacher referred him to a CATT counsellor who diagnosed PTSD and, over several sessions, helped him process his memories. Now he can think of the accident without feeling terrified. He has made new friends and is studying hard to be a doctor.