how do i explain 2 kids i have ptsd and what that means?

Answer 1

Like the others before me stated it depends on the ages of your children and what they can actually understand and handle.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be due to so many different traumatic events and most of these events are too much for a young child to understand. Teenagers are going through a lot of hormonal changes that make them more susceptible to depression over things that they are going through so your added PTSD stories might make them more gloomy.

If you feel you must say things to them then start out by telling them that you feel sad about things that happened in your life that were beyond your control and that you are working on accepting these things so that you can move on with your life. I wouldn't tell them too many specifics unless you know they are old enough and stable enough to be able to handle it.

Meanwhile, I hope that you are getting the necessary counseling and support that you need from adults and other professionals and that you will feel better soon enough.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

I don't know the ages of your kids but I do know you shouldn't go for some big long boring psychological explanation. Just start out at their level talking about how when something scary happens, it can take a while to get over it and you can sometimes still feel scared after the scary thing is gone. Like how a scary movie can cause nightmares for weeks or months or if someone trips on the stairs and gets hurt, they might be scared of stairs for a while. PTSD is pretty much just a fancy way of saying that something that happened in the past still scares you and this results in behaviors or feelings that may seem weird to people who know the scary stuff is over or don't even know that you ever had a big scare. Give them some idea of how this fear has been showing up in you i.e. "sometimes I cry for no reason, sometimes I have nightmares, sometimes I suddenly feel scared again and start shaking". Explain to them that big scares take longer than little scares to get over, but don't worry, Mommy knows in her brain that the scare is over and is working with doctors who specialize in getting over scary stuff and the fear will get smaller and smaller as time goes on. I think they will be able to relate to and understand an explanation like the above. The most important thing for kids is to feel safe and if they don't understand or if they think they have to be the ones to fix it, that is the problem. If they understand and know that you are going to a doctor to fix it and know what to expect, I think you'll be surprised at their ability to handle it. Above all, be matter-of-fact when you explain it, like it's just another problem to be fixed, they'll take their cues from you and trust that you'll be OK in the not too distant future!

Answer 3

Children are a lot wiser and perceptive than we give them credit for. Explain your situation in simple and honest terms without going overboard about details and without getting vulnerable emotionally. Chances are that if you are suffering PTSD, your children are as well by proxy and this will confuse and affect them down the road. I was in my 30s when I realized that some of my own emotional problems went back to when my mom was having emotional problems when I was a kid. Getting the truth out--years after the fact--was an eye-opener and fixed things--all except all that time I lost in between the situation and the disclosure about what was going on. Help yourself and protect your kids --but not by trying to deny or hide things.

Answer 4

How old are your children? Are they old enough to know about your ptsd? If so, explain to them why sometimes you might be a little off, and can't handle certain situations. If they are old enough to understand, talk to them about what happened and why you still feel the way you do. Hopefully you are seeking counseling or are on medication for this condition. I am truly sorry that you are going through this and wish you the best...

Answer 5

Please remove this question, and ask again, but without leaving out the most crucial information.

After all, explaining it to 17 year olds is NOT the same as explaining it to a child of 3, or 8.

Also, giving us an idea of WHY you have it would help. Is it something they already know something about? (That is, if you're a vet, they knew you were away.)

Given the lack of relevant detail, all I can say is to explain that bad stuff happened to you, and that really bad stuff happening can make a person be confused and freaked out (whatever your symptoms are).

If you are getting help, tell them that, too; that you're working with someone to make it better for you (if not, tell them that you're going to seek help -- then do so).

Tell them that you know this is scary and confusing to them, so you wanted them to understand.

Then give them whatever advise you have for what they should do.

Let them express whatever feelings they have about this, and let them know their feelings are understandable.

Allowing them to talk freely about what's going on is best. Having a "secret elephant" in the middle of the room is unhealthy. I applaud your desire to explain.

You might also consider posting this in Social Sciences: Psychology, as professionals hang out there. (If you post the same question 2 different places, a few minutes apart, that will be OK -- excessive posting would be bad.)

But do give enough information so we can help.

Answer 6

To be honest there is no need to. Your kids dont need the stressor of thinking their mommy is not going to be OK. Parts of their braisn havent developed yet so you may be doing more damage then good. Just tell them mommy's ben thru alot and its hard for me to cope with some skills but their mom is going to be fine. Dont let them have your problems, their kids, they dont understand the direct outcome of it, their brains arent equipped with that much information and they shouldnt be subject to that.

Answer 7

unfortunately i don't Have a clue what ptsd is but i would suggest telling them a story with it involved then calmly explaining what it is and that you Have it, a friend of mines mum did this when she found she'd developed cervical cancer 12 years ago ( she is now in remission)

hope this is of any assistance to you and i wish you the best :)

xxxxxxxxx

Answer 8

thats difficult!! by pstd im guessing u mean post traumatic stress disorder? why explain in any detail dependant on kids ages they are going to struggle with that one,

Answer 9

why do you need to?

how about just saying: somedays mommy/daddy has difficult days.

and:
what are you eating? what exercise are you getting? what relaxation techniques are you practicing?

more info
askwaltstollmd.com
hypnotherapy-psychotherapy.com

Answer 10

YOU DON'T!!!!
What in the world makes you think you should destroy your children's minds with the stories surrounding your PTSD?
Get back into therapy, and do your DBT training.