Post Traumatic Stress Diagnosis for an 8 year old

[MOMTKNL]

My 8 year old niece (in FL) was just diagnosed with PTSD. And I can't find any information on this topic in a child so young. Her trauma is living in an enviroment of domestic violence, drug abuse and basically a very ugly home life up to the age of 3. Thankfully her enviroment has been improving but she is getting worse. Threatning to kill herself, siblings and mother. Where do I look? I won't accept that this little girl is evil...

[banchee88]

I too have PTSD. I am 29 yrs old and was diagnosed about 2 years ago when I finally acknowledged that I had a problem.
I was with my husband and two daughters on the end of a visit to his parent's and I got angry at him for something and jumped out of the truck while he was driving. He tried to get me to get back in, not even when he told me that he had to get back to the base and if he did go without me we may lose the kids. I can't believe this now but at the time I told him that I didn't care anymore. The girls were scared and crying. It was about five minutes after he drove off that it hit me what I had just done. I tried to call his parent's and his cell but I had no money to call his cell and his parent's weren't home. He did later come back. I then went to seek help. Your stepdaughter may not even really realize that she has a problem. I didn't and I have been irratic for many years. I didn't even realize until I went to therapy that some of the thigs that my husband said or did was triggering the behavior. Even smells would sometimes cause me to get angry for no reason. I have been through therapy and am trying to deal with it even though I am no longer going. It isn't easy. My sister had the same if not worse experiences as I did and she ignores that they ever happened. She is the opposite of me too and we are 3 years difference in age. She may be in a better situation but it will be with her forever. She has to learn how to deal with it and have someone help her to learn to. I wish you good luck and will honestly say that it will take a long time for her to get over it.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

There are certainly biologically-based mental and emotional disorders, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders and psychotic disorders, to name a few. Even when biology kmay not be a major factor, people can respond quite differently to stress in their lives. Some people can tolerate more stress than can others, some people are more resilient than others. In light of the father's problems, it is quite likely that this little girl does display some biologically-based predisposition to emotional disturbance, and it is best to pursue an evaluation with a child psychiatrist, child psychologist or other child menatl health professional.

[MOMTKNL]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE. THIS CHILD IS A TWIN AND HER TWIN SISTER IS SHOWING EXACT OPPOSITE BEHAVIOR. THEY CAME THROUGH THE SAME SITUATION. HOW CAN ONE BE SO "GOOD" AND THE OTHER JUST SCARY? I DO NOT USE THE WORD EVIL LIGHTLY. BUT THE FAMILY IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW MUCH OF HER BEHAVIOR IS ACTUALLY GENETIC. HER FATHER IS A VERY, VERY BAD PERSON TO HIS CORE. FORTUNATELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE IS SERVING 15 YEARS IN PRISON, THERE IS VERY LITTLE CONTACT. CAN GENETICS PLAY A ROLE IN PERSONALITY AND IF SO, CAN THEY BE FIXED?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Please don't associate PTSD with evil. PTSD is a condition which signifies that the child has been influenced by trauma and is displaying symptoms in the wake of trauma. You can find a wealth of information on the condition. Take a look at the web site of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and you will find useful information about the range of mental and emotional disorders that can appear during childhood.