Page 15 - Demo

COMMON REACTIONS OF CHILDREN AFTER DISASTERS:
Children 0-5 Years of Age
Children 6-11 Years of Age
Most of the symptoms appearing in this age group are nonverbal fears and anxieties. These symptoms include:
The fears for this age group demonstrate an increasing awareness of real danger to self, family, loved ones and their environment. Imaginary fears that seem unrelated to the disaster also may appear. These behaviors include:
• Crying in various forms, with whimpering, screaming and explicit cries for help
• Irritability
• Becoming immobile, with trembling and frightened expressions
• Disobedience
• Running either toward the adult or in aimless motion
• Depression
• Excessive clinging
• Excessive clinging
• Sleep terrors
• Headaches
• Nightmares
• Nausea
• Inability to sleep without a light on or someone else present
• Visual or hearing problems
• Inability to sleep through the night
• Refusal to go to school
• Sensitivity to loud noises
• Behavior problems in school
• Weather fears – lightning, rain, high winds
• Poor school performance
• Irritability
• Fighting
• Confusion
• Withdrawal of interest
• Sadness, especially over loss of persons or prized possessions
• Inability to concentrate
• Speech difficulties
• Distractability
• Eating problems
• Peer problems (e.g., withdrawal from play groups, friends and previous activities)
• Aggressive behaviors and frequent fighting with friends or siblings
Regressive behavior, that is, behavior considered acceptable at an earlier age may reappear in children of any age. This includes the following:
• Thumb sucking
• Bed-wetting
• Loss of bowel/bladder control
• Fear of darkness or animals
• Fear of being left alone or of crowds or strangers
• Irrational fears (e.g., weather, safety of buildings, or fear of lights in the sky) • Inability to dress or eat without assistance
• Sleep problems (e.g., interrupted sleep, need for night light, or falling asleep)
Speier, Anthony H. “Psychosocial Issues for Children and Adolescents in Disasters”. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Mental Health Services (2005)
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