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Parent and Child Psychological Services PLLC 
941.357.4090 (Office)/ 941.877.6683 (SMS Text)/ 727.304.3619 (Fax)
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The Overlap Between Trauma and ADHD Symptoms by Megan Millikan-Pethtel, Psy.D., Postdoctoral Fellow

10/27/2023

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I often hear parents raise concerns about their child’s ability to pay attention at school or maintain concentration on a task at home. Naturally, this causes concern and often results in parents questioning if their child has attention deficits commonly associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD. The reality is, this can be a difficult question to answer, especially with children who have experienced some sort of traumatic event in their lifetime. When it comes to symptoms of trauma and symptoms of ADHD, there can be a lot of overlap. 

First, let’s break down what child traumatic stress is. This happens when children experience or witness some sort of traumatic event, such as serious injuries or serious automobile accidents, life-threatening disasters, violent acts against them, neglect or abandonment, the unexpected death of a loved one, and/or physical or sexual abuse. These experiences impact children’s brains, minds, and even behaviors. Children who experience childhood traumatic stress often develop symptoms that linger and impact their daily living even long after the traumatic event ends. 

Children who experience trauma commonly experience a range of trauma symptoms, like feelings of fear or helplessness, feeling on edge, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, irritability, feelings of guilt or shame, out of body experiences, and/or reckless or aggressive behaviors. 

Now, let’s break down what ADHD is. ADHD is commonly known as a neurobiological disorder that first begins in childhood. It impacts the brain areas in charge of controlling attention and behavior. Children with ADHD typically appear inattentive, impulsive, and/or hyperactive. 

Children with ADHD often experience symptoms of their own, like trouble staying concentrated, trouble following directions, difficulty with organization, appearing fidgety, difficulty waiting or taking turns, excessive talking, interrupting others, and/or losing necessary things. 

While ADHD and trauma appear to be two totally separate experiences, they actually have a lot of symptoms that overlap one another. Children who have experienced trauma, as well as children with ADHD both commonly experience trouble concentrating and learning at school, may be easily distracted, appear to have trouble with listening, may be disorganized, have trouble sleeping, and/or may appear hyperactive or restless. Both ADHD and child traumatic stress also commonly co-occur with other mental health conditions, like anxiety, depression, or learning disabilities. 

With so much overlap, this commonly causes a lot of questions about what the child might be experiencing and thus the appropriate treatment plan. Traumatic experiences in childhood can have such a big impact on development that these children often have problems in many areas of their lives after the traumatic event. Their symptoms may be complex, and given the overlap of symptoms, this often leads to multiple diagnoses or even potential misdiagnoses. This is why an in depth assessment and acknowledging the significant impact childhood trauma can have is so important. By identifying the correct problem a child is experiencing, this allows for proper treatment planning to best support the child and their family. After all, kids are extremely resilient and early intervention can make a tremendous difference! 

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Recognizing Bullying and Ways to Help Children By Katelyn Goll, B.S., Mental Health Counseling Graduate Student

10/20/2023

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October is Bullying Awareness Month, and it is important to remember that although this is the time of year that we refresh our memories on warning signs for bullying and how to help children work through it, bullying is a year-round issue. Thus, although this post is meant for Bullying Awareness Month, it is a great resource for any month. This blog post will cover a description of what bullying is and what it can entail, warning signs for bullying, the consequences of bullying, and tips for helping children. 


What is Bullying: 
There are multiple forms of bullying, but for the purposes of this blog, we will focus on the four types that are most likely to impact children. According to the American Psychological Association, bullying is defined as any form of aggressive behavior that purposefully and repeatedly causes injury or discomfort to another person. Bullying does not only present as physical; it can also manifest through words or subtle actions. Types of bullying include verbal, physical, relational, and cyberbullying. 

Verbal bullying often entails cruel words, name-calling, threatening, or making disrespectful comments about another person. 

Physical bullying often involves physical aggression, including kicking, tripping, blocking, pushing, touching in inappropriate ways, and intimidation. 

Relational bullying is when someone actively engages in exclusion tactics to keep another person from joining the activity, conversation, or group. This type of bullying often occurs at the lunch table, during games or sports, or social gatherings. 

Cyberbullying, slightly different from typical bullying, is defined as verbal threatening or harassment performed using some type of technology, such as a cell phone, email, social media, texting, or direct messaging. This type of bullying can and often does include one or many individuals spreading lies or rumors about someone else on various platforms, including social media. It is important to note that those who commit cyberbullying against children are sometimes adults. 

Warning signs: 
Being aware of the warning signs indicating that a child is being bullied or may be at risk of being bullied is vital. For signs of verbal and relational bullying, children might become withdrawn in specific settings, such as peer activities, or in general. The child might show this by appearing to be alone more than usual. They may also exhibit more moodiness than is typical for the child. It could even impact your child’s appetite. Girls are more likely to experience relational bullying, yet that is not to say it does not impact boys. Warning signs for physical bullying are a little different. They include unexplained marks on the body, including cuts, scratches, or bruises. You might also notice damaged or missing clothing items. Symptoms such as stomachaches and headaches are also typical warning signs for kids experiencing physical bullying. Finally, cyberbullying warning signs include things like sleep disturbance, wanting to stay home from school or other activities, or withdrawing from activities or hobbies they once cherished. Another good indication of bullying is a child spending more time on social media or texting but appearing anxious afterward. 

How to Help: 
After reading about the various types of bullying and the warning signs for recognizing a child might be bullied, you are likely wondering how you can help. Teaching your children about respect and modeling appropriate behavior is an excellent first step in reinforcing how your child ought to treat all with kindness. This can be done by thanking fast-food workers, being kind to grocery store employees, or smiling at your barista in the morning. Also, teaching your child about self-respect will raise their motivation and confidence. Teaching your child to identify their own strengths is also a strong way to help them build confidence and an overall appreciation for themselves. Teach your child to speak up for others and ask for help for themself or peers. Don’t be afraid to take action if necessary. Keeping open and ongoing communication with school counselors, teachers, and other administrators is highly recommended. Lastly, get comfortable with setting boundaries for internet, social media, and cell phone use. Teach your child to never respond to cyberbullying; let them know to instead tell and show you so you can document it for reporting purposes. Ultimately, the most important way to help your child is to show them that you and many others love and care deeply for them. 

Resources: 
https://www.parents.com/kids/problems/bullying/common-types-of-bullying/ 
https://www.apa.org/topics/bullying ​

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    Parent and Child Psychological Services is a private practice serving children and families in the Sarasota, Florida area. The practice is owned and operated by Dr. Gibson, a Licensed Psychologist who is Board Certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. ​

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