There is a long history of PTSD in our society but only recently have we begun to understand the impact of trauma and how it effects children and adults. One part of the reading that resonated with me was the tendency for family members to overcompensate or enable people with PTSD by treating them as if they are disabled. I think this plays out in the classroom when teachers have lower expectations for students because they are aware of a student's PTSD or traumatic experiences. While it is important to have compassion and to create environments where students from all backgrounds and experiences can feel safe and nurtured, it is also important to maintain high expectations for students, to communicate them clearly, and to show students that they are capable of great things. This is part of the healing process for students whose education has been disrupted by trauma in their lives.
PTSD is far more common than I originally thought.
Reply to Marjorie Ungar's post: Likewise this module truly broaden our knowledge about PTSD
I beleive most of my students that I have taught struggle in this area. I am thankful for the useful instruction
The understanding of PTSD continues to evolve. The more that is understood about this situation, the more successful the treatment can become. From reading this information, I've broadened my definition of trauma. The number of children affected was alarming.
The way resarch has evolved in understanding PTSD and how to recognize the signs of the condition as to deal with it with understanding and empathy.
These children who experienced early childhood trauma and even those who came from war, are generally disturbed. They have difficulty of concentration. However, I have observed that they also show obsessive compulsive behavior.
The evolution of the PTSD diagnosis was interesting. I'm glad the APA finally included it and revised it. Hopefully they will add something more directed to children soon since PTSD in children often manifests as behavioral disorders and defiance, learning disabilities, ADD or ADHD, etc...Just stuff I know from my own research.
As an instructor I have had numerous students with PTSD and learning to identify them, empathize with them, and direct them to the available help is essential for their success. The best book I have found on the topic is: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk MD. It's a fantastic book and I have recommended it numerous times (all with good feedback) to Veteran's Coordinators and students with PTSD.
Even though I am knowledgible about PTSD as a psychiatric nurse and course study in Trauma counseling, I gained new insights into the prevalence statistically of those groups from children to adults who hae experienced some type of trauma. The origins of the past definitions of those behaviors was beneficial. Lastly, I was glad to see that research has caught up with the behavor which demystifies those experiencing PTSD.
On a personal note, my daddy was a WW2 veterance who lost the tipe of his finger with schrapnel. At the end stage of his life in hospice, he fell out of the bed. I asked him how did that happen. His response was he was getting ready to jump from his jeep into the jeep of a German deep and in midstream he realize he was in a dream and at that point fell.
I recall how he used to toss and turn in his bed and we were told as children not to go up to his face, but touch his toes to wake him up. I am glad we have these courses that gives insights to better serve this population.
Any vet thank you for your service.
PTSD results from a terrifying event that one encounters, there are some situations that a person has endured that trigger them back to the event that causes the PTSD. The more we learn and understand PTSD we as educators can better help a student that experiences this. It is important to educate ourselves to better understand what ones goes through.
PTSD was originally thought to be a result of a physical event. Over time the definition has changed, and it was added to the DSM and labeled as PTSD within the last 30 years. As we continue to learn more about PTSD, and its effects on individuals, we as educators will be able to implement additional strategies to help our students and level the playing field for them with their peers who have not experienced trauma.
I'm glad we've made advances in our understanding of PTSD and how to treat it.
I am glad that they have more properly identified PTSD for what it is and have a better idea of how to help people now. It is hard to not think of specific people when reading things like this.
I have family members who suffer greatly from PTSD. One in particular is my cousin who cannot even enjoy holidays like Independence Day, and is cautious about attending simple events like races or baseball games that may have fireworks. The explosive sounds induce feelings of unease and I have witnessed that he becomes physically ill-looking. So this particular course hits very close to home for me. I am glad that we recognize it as something we need to be cautious and considerate of.
I've worked with students in residential treatment and other educational settings for numerous years. While PTSD is easily acquired, its resolution isn't simple. I remain frustrated by the tendency for some individuals who grapple with their trauma to be very comfortable with a victim identity. As I read the part of the discussion of family responses to traumatized members and PTSD, I immediately came to a place of reinforcement of a current situation with a former student whose family of origin sees the person as 'broken' and therefore the individual characterizes themself as 'crippled' - despite therapy, despite medication, despite access to positive coping stragegies, and behavioral management supports. The identity as permanently damaged is more comfortable than the work and energy required to heal. It's disheartening, honestly.
I hope better treatments and ultimately that maturation and the desire to engage in life overcome this. I realize there is a need to accept mental health issues as real and I do. I simply don't know what else to do with this situation - other than to realize all I can do is all I can do.
I find it interesting how the definition of PTSD has changed over the years. I am so happy that it is now taken very seriously. The stats on children under the age of 5 suffering from PTSD is alarming.
This gives me a much deeper understanding of so many of the students I work with and what they are coming into the classroom with.
I deal with a student population with an extremely high risk of PTSD. I found it interesting that the the driving factor which led to the currnt understanding of PTSD was driven by war time occurrences.
PTSD has been known by a number of other names.
PTSD results from various types of trauma, not just trauma on the battlefield.
It seems to me it is a subject of great importance in todays world. It is something that is continually evolving.
