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Surviving Trauma: The Impact on Individuals, Families, and In the Classroom

Surviving Trauma: The Impact on Individuals, Families, and In the Classroom. Jessica Duffel, Psy.D . Clinical Psychologist Family Mental Health Program Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. Objectives. Review the signs and symptoms of PTSD

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Surviving Trauma: The Impact on Individuals, Families, and In the Classroom

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  1. Surviving Trauma: The Impact on Individuals, Families, and In the Classroom Jessica Duffel, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist Family Mental Health Program Oklahoma City VA Medical Center

  2. Objectives • Review the signs and symptoms of PTSD • Review of protective and risk factors associated with posttraumatic stress • Describe the impact of posttraumatic stress in the school setting for children and adults

  3. What is Trauma?

  4. Trauma Defined • Exposure to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence • Direct exposureor witnessing • Indirect exposure • Repeated or extreme indirect exposure to gruesome details of the event(s), usually in the course of professional duties

  5. Examples of Traumatic Stressors • Sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence • Violent crimes • War • Natural or man-made disasters • Community violence • Transportation accidents

  6. Signs and Symptoms: RAIN • Re-experiencing • Avoidance • Increased arousal • Negative thoughts and feelings

  7. Additional Considerations • Symptoms persist for at least one month • Negatively impact important areas of life • There may be delay in appearance of symptoms

  8. Other Possible Effects of Trauma • Fear • Worry • Sadness • Anger • Feeling alone • Low self-esteem • Difficulty trusting • Aggression • Self-harm • Alcohol or drug misuse

  9. Important Points • Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD • Posttraumatic reactions vary by person and age

  10. The Impact of Trauma on Families

  11. Children of Parents with PTSD • May feel that their parent does not care about or love them • May worry their parent cannot take care of them • May worry about their parent’s well-being • May show similar symptoms as parent • May take on the adult role • May not learn how to manage their feelings

  12. Helping Children Who Have a Parent with PTSD • Help children learn what it means for a parent to have PTSD • Share information, but do not overshare the details of the parent’s trauma (depends on age and maturity of child) • Help the child understand it is not his/her fault • Individual therapy for parent and child • Family therapy is a good option • Be aware of possible violence in the home

  13. Risk Factors for Developing PTSD • How severe was the trauma? • How close was the trauma? • Did the trauma involve interpersonal violence? • Were there repeated traumas? For Children: • How did the parents react to the trauma? • Does the child have a preexisting mental health condition? • Are there parental mental health concerns?

  14. Protective Factors • Family and SocialSupport • Distance from the trauma • For children, parents are less upset after trauma

  15. Protective Factors • Family and Social Support • Distance from the trauma • For children, parents less upset after trauma

  16. In the Classroom

  17. The Effects of Trauma In the Classroom • Difficulty paying attention • Impaired processing of information • Learning and memory difficulties • Difficulty with problem-solving, planning, organization • Negative attitudes toward school

  18. Possible Accommodations • Extra time on in-class exams or out-of-class assignments • Additional reminders for due dates • Allow for audio recording of class lessons/lectures • Give seating options • Alternative seating arrangements • Breaks during class

  19. Possible Accommodations • Allow to stand in back of class for brief periods • When possible, use of break out groups • Tutoring • Excused absence procedures for medical and/or mental health appointments • Communicate directly to educators about student being a trauma-survivor (if known) and suggestions for accommodations to help the student succeed

  20. Communication with Trauma Survivors • Speak calmly and gently, yet firm • Respectful language • Even tone of voice, not shouting • Approach from the front • Minimize sudden movements • Avoid touching the individual • Minimize loud, sudden noises • Firmly ask the individual to leave the setting if being disruptive

  21. Resources • OKC VA Med Center Family Mental Health Program: 405-456-5183 405-456-2392 • National Center for PTSD: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/ • National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Psychological First Aid, Appendix E: http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/english/appendix_e.pdf • Vet Parenting Toolkit http://www.ouhsc.edu/VetParenting • American Psychiatric Association, DSM 5

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