Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: In Child Who Have Trauma By Sexual Abuse

Childhood is an important developmental period, yet many children experience post-traumatic stress from sexual abuse. The impact of this violence can make children moody, withdrawn, and even carry grudges into adulthood, which can trigger violent behavior towards others. Sexual violence causes psychobiological changes that increase their vulnerability to the effects of long-term stress. Child abuse can occur in a variety of places, such as schools, families, or cyberspace, with harmful forms of physical violence. Triggering factors for violence include domestic problems, parents' difficulties in managing children's emotions, inability to understand children's development, lack of social support, and children's conditions such as physical disabilities or being considered unwanted.

What Is PTSD?

Trauma, whether physical or psychological, can cause anxiety and psychological disorders. Psychologically, trauma occurs when a person faces an event that is beyond their ability to deal with, which can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD occurs after a traumatic event such as sexual assault, war, or an accident, with symptoms such as nightmares, distressing memories, and avoidance of things reminiscent of the trauma. Symptoms can range from mild annoyance to aggressive, violent or self-harming behavior. Sometimes, PTSD sufferers may repeat the traumatic behavior experienced to others as a form of anxiety treatment. PTSD can affect changes in a person's personality and social life.

The Impact Of PTSD

Children who experience PTSD due to sexual violence may feel fear when around strangers, have difficulty controlling their emotions, and have negative imaginations that constantly disturb their minds. They also tend to think about retaliating against others. The impact of this trauma can interfere with the child's cognitive function, such as decreased concentration and performance. Children with PTSD often appear hyperactive, unable to focus, or depressed. Their behavior in daily life shows difficulty in learning and focusing, as well as memory impairment that hinders their development.

Children with PTSD usually have emotional difficulties such as irritability, anxiety and self-control. Trauma from sexual abuse can affect a child's physical, emotional and social development. The impact of PTSD on children who have trauma from sexual abuse is that children will feel threatened when they are around people they don't recognize. Due to feelings that often overflow and are unable to hold back in all situations, the child will have a high level of negative imagination, such as the image of trauma continues to haunt him and makes him think of making other people feel the same way he feels. The trauma of child victims of sexual violence also leads to behaviors that remind them of their injuries, such as self-harm or violence against others. Treating PTSD in children is important to prevent long-term effects. And a supportive environment, such as school and family, has a helping role in helping children recover from trauma and achieve optimal development.