Our youngest is having some big time PTSD issues: Mostly around reactions MUCH bigger than the situation warrants. It happens here and there pretty much year round - but we have noticed a significant change in August. It was the end of August the first year he joined us at age 8. It was all of August last year at age 9. This year, age 10, he started the third week of August and continues today heading towards late September. He has amped it up with swearing and getting physical. FUN.
He's already had it out with the playground monitors and the lunch lady. Now, the bus driver has assigned him a permanent seat right behind the bus driver sitting with the first graders. He's in 5th grade. At home we see even more of his PTSD reactions.
August. At least 3 years in a row. Hmmmmm. Every 5 days. Every 4 days. every 3 days. Every day.
You all know the drill: The over reaction, the random explosion, screaming, disregulation, slamming, crying, sobbing, hyperventilating, collapsing, sulking, then pretending like it never happened. Then the hypervigilance, irritability, the paranoia and the cycle starts anew. Over and Over.
FUN.
Our Social Worker suggests the reason we are seeing cyclical spikes in our youngest's behavior is because of a trauma anniversary.
She said it would be interesting to check the case files.
I said maybe the next time she was in the office and had a chance she could check.
She said Since she has 6 cases to finalize, so probably not unitl after National Adoption Day in November.
I said at least then she might have a little break.
She said she'd just get more cases.
I said thanks.
Hmmmmm.
Sung to the tune of Happy Birthday:
Trauma Annniversary To You.
Trauma Annniversary To You.
Trauma Annniversary Dear _______.
Trauma Annniversary To You.
Would your case worker let you go in and look through his file sooner than that?
ReplyDeleteA book I've falled in love with lately (see a recent post at my blog, and don't be put off by the fact that it's a book supposedly for international adoption) talks about anniversary behaviour. It is the only place I've seen this idea written about so concretely. It also talks about our kids having both explicit memories and implicit memories, and how often implicit memories can be triggered by very subtle things that we can never pick up on. It could be something like the angle of the sun at a particular time of the year, or a smell, or someone with a certain hair colour, and so on. Anyway, I don't find your youngest's all that surprising. Something must have gone on at this time of year sometime in his previous life.
Thanks. we can't see the records - but I so agree with your thoughts on the subtle reminders as triggers.....trying to figure it all out....
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