WE'RE NOT FACING IT

The Coronavirus is not chronic. PTSD is.

The coronavirus of 2020 'shelter in place' mandate may help all of us understand the pain of isolation that is often a symptom of PTSD. It shouldn't take a physical mask, however, to see there are underlying masks -- the face we wear when we are in denial and wish to avoid addressing painful, expensive and chronic problems -- that have culminated in the current crisis and government mandates forcing us to change our behavior and address underlying and inconvenient truths. about the way we do things, the way we fund things, and the way we prioritize things. When masks become a permanent part of the our wardrobe, as they did during the Hong Kong protests, and as we see around the world now, it is time for a reckoning. Fortunately, coronavirus is not chronic. PTSD is. Let's not let PTSD poison future generations any more than we already have. Current treatment is often solely focused on the patient. PTSD, however, is an insidious affliction that can "infect" everyone around them. Children who may not understand their parent's withdrawal, fatigue, and irritability are especially vulnerable. They do not understand why Mom or Dad cannot hold a job, is not present, has an addiction and/ or leaves them for a life on the street. It seems reasonable to assume this dysfunction in family relations, if allowed to fester, could disrupt the family outlook for years to come. A patient with a dysfunctional family is not likely to heal.

The following was posted on the NIH website under Post Traumatic Stress syndrome :

Do children react differently than adults?

Children and teens can have extreme reactions to trauma, but some of their symptoms may not be the same as adults. Symptoms sometimes seen in very young children (less than 6 years old), can include:

• Wetting the bed after having learned to use the toilet

• Forgetting how to or being unable to talk

• Acting out the scary event during playtime

• Being unusually clingy with a parent or other adult

Older children and teens are more likely to show symptoms similar to those seen in adults. They may also develop disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behaviors. Older children and teens may feel guilty for not preventing injury or deaths. They may also have thoughts of revenge.

Let's get an evaluation of the patient and family as a standard part of treatment going forward. #vethomelessness, #combat #stress, #addiction, # Dysfunction