Child Abuse, Family Problems, and Trauma

Divorce, child abuse, neglect, a death in the family -- all may have a tremendous impact on a child's behavior and ability to learn.   Children who grow up in chaotic households, single-parent homes or who suffer from verbal abuse may also have problems. Compounding the problem are those naturally active kids who like to test the rules repeatedly.  Such children are probably more likely to be victimized by unstable and overwhelmed parents. 

Foster children are often labeled ADD as they are bounced around from dysfunctional natural parents to various foster parents, some no better than their own parents.   Such children may have experienced horrifying abuse

There is an overlap here with anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress.  Anxiety and depression are addressed under a separate article.  According to the American Psychiatric Association, people who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may behave as follows:

"They can become suddenly irritable or explosive, even when they are not provoked. They may have trouble concentrating or remembering current information, and, because of their terrifying nightmares, they may develop insomnia. This constant feeling that danger is near causes exaggerated startle reactions.

Finally, many people with PTSD also attempt to rid themselves of their painful re-experiences, loneliness, and panic attacks by abusing alcohol or other drugs as a "selfmedication" that helps them to blunt their pain and forget the trauma temporarily. A person with PTSD may show poor control over his or her impulses and may be at risk for suicide."

Trouble concentrating and poor impulse control are the hallmarks of ADD, so it is not surprising that PTSD may be misdiagnosed as ADD.  But the stimulant medications used to treat ADD may make PTSD worse, and the stress disorder itself is left untreated.  Even worse, a child may be left in the situation that caused the disorder in the first place.

All BTE pages were written by Teresa Gallagher unless otherwise noted and may be photocopied (but not reprinted) without permission.  BTE Web Design now creates websites for small businesses. Perhap "BTE" really means "Born to Entrepreneur..."