Is this post traumatic stress?

[live4christp1]

It has been 3 weeks since DS and I were in a car accident. We were struck on the passenger side and DS saw it all happen as he sits on the passenger side back seat. Normally he has made 90's and above in school, the two weeks after the wreck he has brought home a 50 and a 70. We weren't cut up or anything, there was no blood involved, he didn't hit his head, etc. They did take me out of the car in a collar and on a back board. He seemed fine at the scene, he wasn't crying, upset, or complaining. Following the wreck he has awakened during the middle of the night and come into our room saying he had a nightmare etc. He has complained of a headache to the point of vomiting (went to the ped for that and he said it was a sinus infection). Any time his head hurts or stomach hurts he starts crying and saying he is afraid he is going to D-I-E (he won't say it, just spell it). This is very out of character for him. This crying and being afraid of D-I-E has been happening almost nightly since the wreck. Everyday when we pass the intersection where the wreck happened he breathes a sigh of relief that we didn't get hit again.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not sure--but an accident can be very traumatic even if no injuries are invovled. It might be warranted to take him to a counselor who specializes in kids and psd.

Years ago--I had an aunt with 2 girls who got into a car accident. Now--her oldest was in therapy for something else and had recently completed it and all was good. Until the accident. That set her back and she needed to go back into therapy. The accident was just too traumatic for her to handle even though noone was hurt. The car had lots of damage.

I was in an accident with my girls in May--someone hit us on purpose while in motion--hit and run. Thankfully it was a rear ending and all was fine. They were upset initially--but mommy was able to nip any fears in the bud. However--for a more serious accident I might not have been so lucky. .

What your son is doing probably isn't a healthy rationalization of the events of the accident. He probably needs a therapist to help him get to a healthy view of the accident that took place. Good luck .

 

[Wishing on a star]

I agree with the last poster...

You simply cannot underestimate how traumatic something like this can be. You son just had his first personal encounter with death and mortality.

Also, you cannot go by his reaction at the time of the accident. You kind of go into shock or auto-pilot after something like that.

I would also not rule out that he could actually have some physical problems from the accident. As well as the fact that a true sinus infection on top of all of that makes it all ten times worse.

 

[Keli]

Although accidents can be very scary and tramatic I don't believe you can get Post tramatic stress syndrome from them because if I understand PTSS it requires other factors that would be nearly impossible to have present in a car accident.

But certainly someone, especially a child, could be very tramatized by an accident, even one without blood, enough to require some counseling to deal with the feelings and fears they have as a result. His symptoms would indicate to me a child that is very emotionally upset over what has happened and I would definitely look into getting him a counselor to talk over his fears. Poor thing, my heart really goes out to your son.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Well, we may be getting into semantics here about the defination of PSSS...

But, I take the term at simple face value, fear and stress that remain after experiencing a traumatic situation. Which I do think it sounds like this is the case here.

 

[caitycaity]

it is most definitely possible to get ptsd from a car accident.

http://www.ptsdsupport.net/car.html

i'm also sending you a pm.

 

[mtblujeans]

Have him checked for depression. An auto accident is so terribly traumatic that I don't think a bout of depression is out of line afterwards.

 

[live4christp1]

Thanks everyone. When the accident happened I thought that he had been sitting back there coloring on a project he was working on for school, I didn't think that he saw the accident happen. But later when I asked him he said, "I wasn't coloring because I needed a grey crayon and didn't have one." Then he recounted to me step by step what happened.


Every day when we approach that intersection he points out the direction the other car was coming from, etc. I hadn't really thought about it but maybe I need to change the route we take home.

 

[live4christp1]

Okay, any thoughts on how to find a good counselor. Would prefer someone who would let him talk through and work through his feelings. Not looking for a doctor to pump him up with all kinds of mood altering drugs. Never had to look for a counselor so not sure what avenues to take.

TIA

Cristy

 

[mtblujeans]

You could ask your DSs Dr, but then he/she might want to evaluate him first. You could ask school counselor if they can recommend someone that would work well with your child's age.

 

[WDWAurora]

Okay, any thoughts on how to find a good counselor. Would prefer someone who would let him talk through and work through his feelings. Not looking for a doctor to pump him up with all kinds of mood altering drugs. Never had to look for a counselor so not sure what avenues to take.

TIA

Cristy

What part of TN are you in? If you're far enough east I might have some recommendations for you...

According to the DSM-IV, a car accident is definitely something that can cause PTSD. As would be a house fire, earthquake, hurricane, etc. MANY things can cause it and it is more common in children than most of us (including myself, a graduate student in school psychology) would like to believe.

Edited to add-I would also look for a psychologist or psychiatrist rather than a counselor. You can get a diagnosis and then they can refer you to a good counselor. Your pediatrician can tell you what psych they generally refer to.

 

[live4christp1]

What part of TN are you in? If you're far enough east I might have some recommendations for you...

According to the DSM-IV, a car accident is definitely something that can cause PTSD. As would be a house fire, earthquake, hurricane, etc. MANY things can cause it and it is more common in children than most of us (including myself, a graduate student in school psychology) would like to believe.

Edited to add-I would also look for a psychologist or psychiatrist rather than a counselor. You can get a diagnosis and then they can refer you to a good counselor. Your pediatrician can tell you what psych they generally refer to.

Thanks for the info. We are right outside Chattanooga Tennessee, Chattanooga is where we both work, where DS goes to school and also where all our doctors are. I guess I need to look for a psychologist or psychiatrist that specializes in children.

 

[wilderness01]

How old is your child? We were in a very bad accident when our child was little. The ped said that as long as he was talking out his feelings and not obsessing about them then he was "within normal limits". This went on for awhile but that is how he dealt with what happened. It took me years not to relive that night and to this day when we go past that intersection I get a sick feeling in my stomach. Whenever anyone comes up on my side too fast I still swerve my car. I just can't help it, it is just a kneejerk reaction. Give your son time, it hasn't been that long. Our car was totaled and we still live with the ramifications of that night, but we are lucky, we are all alive. Good luck to you, it will get better.

 

[minkydog]

My DH nearly died of septic shock about 18 months ago. He had been ill but was doing better when he suddenly took a turn for the worse--way worse. He walked into the ED and 4hrs later he was nearly dead. My children did not witness the actual event, but they were there for every day of the aftermath. They have each handled it differently. DS19 took it the hardest--he was already struggling with himself. He did a nosedive off the deep end and eventually was hospitalized for depression.After he recovered, he quit school and left home, mostly to get away from the daily grind of Daddy's illness. DD12 had to be put in school in the middle of all this(she had been homeschooled all her life). She nearly failed 5th grade, not because she was behind, but because she couldn't get organized. She had crying spells and her grades ranged from A+ to F. DS10 is autistic & nonverbal. He went through a period of crying, destructiveness, and fecal smearing.

We worked very hard with the kids to get them through this period. Each one needed different treatment--DS19 needed meds and hospitalization due to his already-ongoing depression; DD12 was easily managed in a school-based anger management group. DD10 eventually stopped smearing feces and began "requesting" a lot of physical attention(head scratching, firm hugs, foot rubs, distance walking) which has calmed his destructive tendencies.
It took me about a year to figure out that they all had PTSS. In fact, it wasn't until I was diagnosed in May that I put all the pieces together. Even though we didn't know what we were doing, somehow we managed to do it right and every one of the kids is doing well now.

I encourage you to do whatever is necessary to reasurre your child. Seeking help from a child psychologist might be very helpful. You might also consider looking into something like aquatic physical therapy or hippotherapy. We have used both of those modes with our autistic son(not solely for PTSS) and they have been remarkably effective in helping him relax and become more communicative and in control of his actions.