Getting a diagnosis

It’s not unusual for children under the age of 16 to remain without a diagnosis. This can be difficult to understand but labelling children with diagnoses that could stay with them for the rest of their lives is sometimes considered premature. Children grow and change and some do emerge from horrific trauma more or less intact.

However, it can feel that without a diagnosis, that there is no treatment plan, just an endless description of symptoms which can be incredibly frustrating. Equally, a decision may be made to adopt a position of ‘watchful waiting’ because sometimes treatment can actually do more harm than good. If this isn’t communicated to parents, or they do not know what they are watching for, or what to do when they see behaviours that they don’t understand, parent can feel abandoned and isolated.

Suggestions:

• If you child doesn’t have a diagnosis, then ask a psychiatrist if they are using a working diagnosis or are basing their treatment on a predicted or emerging  diagnosis.
• Ask for a written copy of any treatment plan and what you should be doing at home to support that treatment plan
• Ask about timescales – how long it will be before they will be able to confirm a diagnosis or when it will become clear if the current treatment plan is working (or not).
• Talk about how you should communicate concerns or worrying behaviours and who that should be to.

It’s very common for people who are recovering from trauma to experience depression. You can read an accurate description of depression on this NHS website.

On the same page there is a self-assessment test that can be taken by anybody to assess their current mood.

It’s worth bearing in mind that depression is common amongst carers and 3rd party vicitms of crime so take the test yourself! If you or your loved one score highly then there are instructions at the end to help support you to get more help if necessary.

Anxiety can feel like intense worry about specific aspects of your life or an overwhelming feeling of dread about just about everything – or somewhere in between. It’s very hard indeed for 3rd party victims of crime to ‘not’ worry because of the level of care and the inevitable degree of vigilence required to keep loved ones safe.

Guilt, shame and blame also lead to negative thoughts, the involvement of multiple agencies in your life, invasion of privacy and a fear of what will happen next, all lead to stress and anxiety. Many 3rd party carers will say that they are anxious with very good reason!

For survivors of crime, feelings or fear, anxiety, worry or dread are a natural reaction to trauma that can lead to poor sleep, hypervigilence, lack of confidence or isolation.

This information about Generalised Anxiety Disorder provides basic information about anxiety and there is information about stress on this paege.

Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop months after a traumatic event. You may associate it with military (combat stess) personnel but it is a common disorder for children and adults who have experienced traumatic or life-threatening events. This includes sexual assault and abuse.

This information from MIND details the symptoms and what you should do if you or your loved one is struggling. It is not uncommon for carers who find themselves having to deal with suicide attempts or repeated trauma through care of a loved one to develop PTSD.

Attachment is incredibly important to babies and children to ensure that they grow emotionally and trust their primary care-givers. Children who experience trauma early in their lives may have disordered attachments that can have a profound impact on their emotional and physical development.

Attachment disorders are complex but there is more information here. Understanding attachment if your child has suffered abuse or witnessed domestic violence is a very useful tool that will not only explain some of the difficulties they are currently facing but also some of the issues that may be ahead.

There is a sad correlation between people who are abused or traumatised as children and personality disorders, most commonly Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD). This is still occasionally called Borderline Personality Disorder, particularly in the media.

This information from MIND about BPD / EUPD is very detailed.

Caring for someone who has EUPD is extremely hard work and it is likely that you will need support and guidance. People do recover from EUPD but sadly many also lose their lives because of the disorder. You may find the information in out section called ‘The Tough Stuff’ useful.