Has your child been a little more rambunctious than usual? Many are quick to slap on an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis to a hyperactive child, but sometimes this diagnosis doesn’t capture the true underlying causes. If a loved one is showing a change in behavior, it could be that they survived, or witnessed, a traumatic experience.
It is scary as a parent or guardian to think that your child could have been involved in an upsetting event that was out of your control. If a child is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it often presents as the same behaviors as an ADHD diagnosis. Beware, if a child is misdiagnosed and treated medically or therapeutic in this way, the treatment will not work, all while hindering the process of healing from trauma.
While we always encourage parents to trust a professional diagnosis, we want to encourage you to take a little extra time to do some sleuthing to ensure that no stone is left unturned. Trauma and ADHD can present the same way, with symptoms such as:
- Hyperactivity
- Inattention
- Distraction
- Disruptive behavior
- Restlessness
- Impatience
- Avoidance of activities
- Mood swings
- Impulsiveness
- Anger/ Aggression
- Sleeping problems
- Poor memory
- Poor concentration
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Shame
The way to know the difference is in the history.
Trauma can be defined as a distressing event, whether being involved or observing the experience. These incidents can include accidents, injuries, or more serious circumstances such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. If a child is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, the experience (whether reoccurring or not) may trigger symptoms, which is the child’s way of processing the trauma. Symptoms may include re-experiencing the trauma through flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of anything that is a reminder of the trauma, emotional numbness, depression, anxiety, out of place sexual behavior, poor self-esteem, hyper arousal and attentiveness, social withdrawal, irritability, aggressive behavior, temper tantrums, and lack of focus.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on the other hand, is a life-long condition that affects a person’s inability to focus, often resulting in hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors. Early indicators of an emerging ADHD diagnosis can be seen as young as age 1. It is important to focus on the present and identify the symptoms, which may include the aforementioned hyperactivity, lack of focus, and impulsiveness, as well as fidgeting, interrupting, trouble controlling their emotions, irritability, depression, anxiety, aggressive behavior, impatience, low self-esteem, forgetfulness, daydreaming, boredom, and struggling to complete tasks.
If a child and/or loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to create a comfortable space for them to express their feelings. The best way to begin the healing work as a parent is add some quality time to your daily routines. Cooking together, help with homework, read a bedtime story, and driving to after-school activities are all simple ways to open the lines of communication and begin the process of seeking the proper care your loved one needs.
You can self schedule an in-person or virtual therapy session at the Center for Growth by calling (215) 922- LOVE (5683) x 100.
Our Guarantee: If after your first session you are not sold that you are working with the right therapist, do not hesitate to call our intake line at 215 922 5683 x 100 or Alex at (267) 324-9564 and ask to be rescheduled with another therapist. The choice of how you want to proceed is yours. Our only goal is to support you in becoming the best you possible.
For your convenience, we have brick and mortar offices and work with clients virtually in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Physical Therapy Office Locations:
Ocean City Therapy Office 360 West Ave, Floor 1, Ocean City, NJ 08226
Mechanicsville Therapy Office 9044 Mann Drive, Mechanicsville Virginia, 23116
Society Hill Therapy Office 233 S. 6th Street, C-33, Philadelphia PA 19106
Art Museum / Fairmount Therapy Office 2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 1a2, Philadelphia PA 19130
Providence Therapy Office 173 Waterman St. Providence, RI 02906
Fayetteville Therapy Office 101 Devant Street #606, Fayetteville GA 30214
Santa Fe Therapy Office, 2204 B Brothers Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505
Telemedicine Therapy Locations: We have therapists who are licensed to work in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Virginia and Pennsylvania
Therapy Services Offered in Fayetteville, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Philadelphia, Providence, Santa Fe:
Individual Counseling and therapy
Couples Counseling and marriage counseling
Teen Therapy and Adolescent Therapy and tweens and child counseling
Family Therapy and multi-generational counseling
Art Therapy and Counseling no art skills needed
ADHD Therapy and ADD, Dyslexia, Autism, Tourettes counseling
Anxiety, Panic, OCD Therapy and worry and fear support
Breaking the cycle of Codependency and being your own person
Overcoming Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain .
Depression Therapy and sadness, gloom, and upset support
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Therapy is a particular style of therapy designed for people with problems affecting their nervous system, how the brain and body send and receive signals.
Grief Therapy and loss, End of A Relationship, rejections, pregnancy and loss and therapy
Mindfulness Based Therapy and spirituality based therapy
Narcissistic Abuse Recovery child of, parent of, spouse of, sibling of a narcissist.
Sex Therapy and sexual function & dysfunction, sex addiction, sexual orientation and gender identity support
Trauma Therapy both emotional and sexual abuse, complex trauma, PTSD counseling
Divorce support
Affairs, Infidelity, Unfaithful, Cheating counseling
Parenting therapy
Personality disorder treatments Narcissist, Borderline, Histrionic
Setting Boundaries and identifying ones own Core Beliefs
Just name some of the Mental Health issues that we work with. Our goal is to help you Change and Achieve Your Dreams
