Feb 1, 2012 Posted by Jolene

Calling All Parents of Kids with PTSD

Regular visitors to DifferentDream.com know I occasionally climb on the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) soapbox. If you’re a new visitor, type PTSD in the website search box and see how many posts pop up. Pretty substantial soap box, isn’t it? The PTSD Soapbox This particular soapbox is a logical response for a parent whose son lived with undiagnosed, untreated PTSD until he was 26. As a... read more

Sep 28, 2011 Posted by Jolene

Sesame Street, Kids, and PTSD

For the past few months, I’ve been researching the subject of kids and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While the body of information about older children with PTSD and resources to help them is growing, the same can’t be said for younger kids. Fewer resources exist for young children who’ve experienced trauma. And even fewer resources exist for families of children who’ve... read more

May 31, 2011 Posted by Jolene

How Freedom’s Calling Can Help PTSD Sufferers

Freedom seems an appropriate topic with Memorial Day celebrations, and the sacrifices made by our armed forces to preserve it, fresh in our minds. Today’s post celebrates some good news for people seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD Intensive Therapy Clinic in Georgia Recently, I met Margaret Vasquez, who just relocated her Trauma Therapy Institute in Brunswick,... read more

May 3, 2011 Posted by Jolene

National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week: May 1-7

So, what do you know about kids and mental health? If you’re like most of the general public, not very much. My understanding of the field was almost non-existent until two years ago when our son was treated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that began shortly after his birth, but was undiagnosed for 26 years. Special Needs and Mental Health Many children with special needs deal with mental... read more

Mar 23, 2011 Posted by Jolene

Can You Imagine Infant Surgery Without Anesthesia?

Warning! This post is not for the faint at heart! At best, it will show you how far pediatric surgery has advanced since the 1950s. At worst, it will make you sick to think of the trauma endured by tens of thousands of babies before 1986. What Happened in 1986? 1986 was the year the Academy of Pediatric Surgeons changed their infant surgery protacol. Finally, they added pain medication to the paralytic... read more