By Caroline Miller
When kids have behavior and attention issues in school, the first explanation that comes to mind is often ADHD. But exposure to trauma can also cause symptoms that look like ADHD. And trauma is often overlooked when kids are misdiagnosed with ADHD.
Children with ADHD can be fidgety (always getting out of their seats), distracted (not paying attention to the teacher), and disruptive in class. Kids who have had a traumatic experience – or repeated exposure to violence or abuse – do some of the same things. They are unusually sensitive to signs of danger or threat, which can cause them to be jumpy and unable to settle down. They may see people as out to get them, so are prone to lashing out. They may also have intrusive thoughts about traumatic events they’ve experienced, and that can make kids look spacey and distracted.
Share This Post!
At the Intersection of Autism and Trauma
By Lauren Gravitz Having autism can sometimes mean enduring a litany of traumatic events, starting from a young age. “We know that about 70 percent of kids with autism will have [...]
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Autistic People
By Dr Freya Rumball The risk of PTSD is higher for groups who are more likely to be exposed to traumatic events. Research indicates that autistic people may be more likely [...]
Afraid to sleep indoors: Child survivors of deadly quake left traumatized
By Zeena Saifi, Dalya Al Masri and Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN For victims in Syria, the earthquake is another crisis amid a devastating 12-year civil war. Children and families who were recovering from PTSD and ongoing trauma from [...]
How to Cope with Vicarious Trauma Caused by Videos of Police Brutality
By Jade Hindmon, NPR Many of us spent recent days thinking about the life of a man we never met. And yet, particularly for Black people, know very well. Tyre Nichols [...]
The Effects of Racial Trauma on Mental Health: Deaths Captured on TV and Media
National Alliance on Mental Illness Racial tension is once again at a critical tipping point in the U.S. Many people have asked, “Why now? Why was the death of George Floyd [...]
Behavioral Health Specialists Help Locals Kick the Winter Blues
By Brian D. King Christmas, New Year’s, and the winter months feel blue to many. While the season brings together family, which for many is a source of joy, but for [...]