PTSD symptoms in children

In children – especially very young children – the symptoms of PTSD can differ from those of adults and may include:

• Fear of being separated from their parent.

• Losing previously-acquired skills (such as toilet training).

• Sleep problems and nightmares.

• Somber, compulsive play in which themes or aspects of the trauma are repeated.

• New phobias and anxieties that seem unrelated to the trauma (such as fear of monsters).

• Acting out the trauma through play, stories, or drawings.

• Aches and pains with no apparent cause.

• Irritability and aggression.