Growing up as a child, my dad was an alcoholic.
Whenever my dad would drink, domestic violence would occur. To cope and
survive, I would read, sing and makeup stories in my head. Reading allowed me
to escape to faraway places and experience life with other families or average
families. Had it not been for my love of books, I would have had a nervous
breakdown, run away, or committed suicide to escape the reality of my world. Because
of the stress I experienced as a child, I was shy, timid and I hate confrontations.
In South Africa, one of the main stressors is post traumatic stress disorder
that stems from violence and war. I have also included a chart below of associated
stressors that occur to children in South Africa
Children who are exposed to these stressors can suffer from the
violent outburst. They have emotional problems that can cause them to become
shy and withdrawn. Children and adolescents treated for post-traumatic stress
disorder at the Free State Psychiatric Complex. Children referred to the FSPC
are also exposed to traumatic events which lead to the development of PTSD. The
Free State is an expansive area with isolated areas where specialist services
and facilities are limited. They recommended that preventive programs, training
opportunities and consultation services are implemented to identify and treat
children and adolescents with PTSD. Schools with limited access to
psychological services and large classrooms, impeding the diagnosis and
treatment of PTSD specifically, face similar challenges. Reinforcement of
professional services and the upgrading of facilities will decrease the burden
on the Child Mental Health Unit, but will require collaborative efforts from
role players such as the National Departments of Health and Education.
Children and Adolescents Treated for Post-Traumatic
Stress ... (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-380143896/children-and-adolescents-t
Thank you Sylvia for sharing your experiences from your childhood. Like you, I also used my imagination in order to take myself away from my reality. I think that it is remarkable that not only were you able to survive the incidents that you have witnessed as a young child, but you have also conquered those events and you can now be an inspiration and an advocate for other young children who have experienced similar situation.
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