Terrorist incidents are defined as traumatic situations that increase the risk of death, can cause serious injury, and where the individual experiences and sometimes witnesses a threat to his or her own or someone else's physical health. After such events, children and young people may experience their own psychological and psychiatric problems. Assistant from the Department of Child Adolescent Mental Health and Diseases. Assoc. Dr. Özlem Şireli Bingöl says, "Symptoms characterized by significant adaptation problems and anxiety may occur, especially after terrorist incidents that result in great losses." It is stated that the most basic emotions created by traumatic events such as death are fear and helplessness. Increasing terrorist incidents; It can lead to severe stress reactions by increasing the anxiety of children and young people by directly exposing them or by making them witness them through the influence of the media. The effects of traumatic events may vary depending on age groups. The nature and severity of the event, the child's support systems such as school and family, their functionality, the changes created by the event in the child's life, gender and individual characteristics are among the factors that determine the level of impact and reactions. The symptom that occurs after terrorist attacks in children and adolescents is mostly 'anxiety'. Anxiety level; The reactions of the family may vary depending on the child's personality characteristics and the living environment. Children and adolescents exposed to severe trauma such as terrorist attacks have a high risk of developing 'post-traumatic stress disorder'. With increasing anxiety, young children may experience excessive attachment to their parents, acting younger than their age, loss of acquired skills, and physical complaints (headache, abdominal pain, nausea, etc.).
After a traumatic event in school-age children; Excessive preoccupations and fears about unrelated subjects, changes in sleeping and eating habits, attention problems at school and course failure, relationship problems with peers, introversion, and physical complaints (abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness) may occur. Repeatedly remembering and talking about the traumatic event, reminding the person of the event Exaggerated reactions to objects and decreased movements and speech may be observed. In adolescents; Increased anger, hopelessness and depression may develop. Some young people also experience problems such as introversion and regression.
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