Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two important medical conditions that warrant significant public awareness. With the right treatment and social support, individuals often experience notable improvements in their symptoms and overall quality of life. In this blog, we will concentrate on pediatric mental health and child development. We’ll begin by exploring the key concepts of each condition, their connection, the various therapeutic approaches, and conclude with the positive outcomes associated with incorporating art therapy as a therapeutic approach, specifically somatic art therapy.
What is a Stress Response and What is the Relationship Between Stress and PTSD?
A stress response happens when encountering trauma. The nervous system gets triggered and releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. This reaction is a natural mechanism that aids us in responding to danger yet too much of it may lead to maladaptive responses.
Stress needs to be in moderation (the relationship between stress and performance will be explained shortly); the following is the inverted U-shaped model, known as the Yerkes-Dodson Law, created by Robert Yerkes and John Dodson. This model illustrates the relationship between arousal (or stress) and performance, suggesting that there is an optimal level of arousal for peak performance, while both low and high levels can be detrimental.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after someone experiences a traumatic event. While such experiences can trigger a natural stress response that helps us cope with danger, this response can become overwhelming if the stress is severe and prolonged.
The encouraging news is that not everyone who faces trauma will develop PTSD. Various factors influence this outcome, including the severity and duration of the trauma, individual differences, the presence of support systems, coping strategies, and neurobiological factors.
Are Children Generally More Adaptive or Susceptible to Stressors?
Before we address the question, it’s important to understand the concept of neuroplasticity, which refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. This adaptability is crucial, as it allows the brain to adjust to new conditions, learn new information, and recover from injuries.
According to Dr Victor Carrión, an expert in pediatric mental health, children in particular exhibit heightened neuroplasticity, making them more susceptible to trauma and at greater risk for developing PTSD. However, this same feature also enhances their ability to recover when given the right support. Therefore, the answer isn’t simply one or the other; rather, it’s essential to identify the issue promptly and implement appropriate interventions.
What is the Relationship Between PTSD and ADHD in Pediatric Psychiatry?
We should first recognize that PTSD and ADHD can coexist within the same individual. In families where multiple members exhibit symptoms, it can be particularly challenging to identify PTSD, as those symptoms may become normalized. In pediatric psychiatry, there is a recognized relationship between PTSD and ADHD. Trauma, particularly in childhood, can manifest in symptoms similar to ADHD, such as difficulty concentrating, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. This overlap can make accurate diagnosis challenging.
Additionally, a portion of ADHD diagnoses may actually stem from PTSD. This highlights the need for increased attention in pediatric mental health, particularly regarding accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment options.
At our center for trauma therapy in Montreal, we explore these complexities to provide individualized care. Children who have experienced trauma may benefit from ADHD therapy in Montreal, where a comprehensive approach addresses both the trauma and attentional difficulties.
Art therapy, particularly affordable art therapy for children, can be a valuable tool in helping young clients express emotions tied to trauma and ADHD symptoms. Therapists in Montreal often use art therapy to create a safe space for children to explore their feelings and experiences. By addressing both PTSD and ADHD, therapeutic interventions can promote better mental health outcomes and help children develop effective coping strategies for their unique challenges.
What Are Some Common Treatment Approaches of ADHD and PTSD?
Some literature from Dr. Victor Carrión – who has expertise in pediatric PTSD and who serves in the psychiatry and behavioral sciences department in Standard University – suggested that the first-line treatment plans for ADHD and PTSD are stimulant treatment and psychosocial intervention respectively.
Stimulant treatment for ADHD involves medications that increase levels of certain neurotransmitters, primarily dopamine and norepinephrine, in the brain. These medications can help improve focus, attention, and impulse control in individuals with ADHD. Typically acting as the first-line treatment due to their effectiveness, they are often prescribed alongside behavioral therapies for a comprehensive approach to managing ADHD.
Psychosocial treatment for PTSD focuses on therapeutic interventions that address emotional, cognitive, and social aspects of the disorder. Common approaches include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps individuals process traumatic memories and develop coping strategies, and exposure therapy, which gradually exposes patients to trauma-related stimuli to reduce anxiety. Other techniques, such as art therapy and mindfulness practices, can also be beneficial. These treatments aim to improve emotional regulation, rebuild trust, and enhance social support, ultimately helping individuals regain a sense of control and improve their overall quality of life.
What is A “Cue” in Psychology and What is Cue Therapy?
According to what has been addressed in Huberman’s episode on “How to Heal From Posttraumatic Stress Disorder”, a “cue” is a fundamental concept in psychology and therapeutic approaches. It refers to a signal or stimulus that triggers a specific response or behavior, which can be external—such as environmental factors or social signals—or internal, like thoughts or feelings. Cues are often mutual, yet their interpretation is highly subjective and context-dependent. For example, children who have experienced trauma may interpret variations in voice tone as cues, which can trigger physical sensations and lead to unwanted or inappropriate behaviors.
Recognizing cues is crucial in cue therapy for PTSD. In this approach, children are educated about cues and classical conditioning, which involves the pairing of triggers and behaviors, as well as the effects of their condition and treatment. Unlike many other therapeutic modalities, cue therapy does not require parental involvement. Children can often engage more effectively without their parents present, which helps facilitate the therapy sessions.
Cue therapy also introduces the concept of a “toolbox,” consisting of various strategies and techniques to help children recognize, understand, and manage their cues. These may include breathing exercises and behavioral techniques. The goal of these exercises is to help children cultivate positive thinking when they are emotionally stable and to learn how to identify their thought patterns. Over time, they can decide which tools to utilize in response to specific triggers.
What is Mindfulness and How Does Art Therapy Serve as a Mindful Approach?
Mindfulness is the art of being fully present and engaged in the moment, free from judgment. It is a state of mind. Art therapy adopts mindfulness in the way that clients are encouraged to express themselves in a supportive environment, delivering their inner world and connecting with the therapists in a creative way whilst feeling deeply the movement of the hands and while touching the art materials.
Four points that describe the therapeutic process:
- Fostering Presence: Creating art requires concentration, helping individuals immerse
themselves in the here and now
- Encouraging Non-Judgment: The focus is on the process of creation rather than the final product, allowing for self-acceptance and reducing self-criticism.
- Enhancing Emotional Awareness: Engaging with art can bring underlying emotions to the surface, promoting awareness and understanding of one’s feelings.
- Promoting Relaxation: The act of creating can be calming, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.
What is Somatic Art Therapy?
Somatic means body-based. Somatic art therapy is a therapeutic approach that combines elements of art therapy with somatic practices to support emotional healing and trauma recovery. This method focuses on the connection between the mind, body, and emotions. It helps individuals express and process difficult experiences through both creative expression such as drawing, painting, or sculpting and an awareness of their physical sensations.
Somatic art therapists in Montreal, encourage clients to explore their internal experiences using art as a way to access and express emotions that may be stored in the body. Trauma and stress can manifest physically, so this approach provides a safe, non-verbal way for clients to release tension, explore their feelings, and develop a greater sense of bodily awareness. Techniques may include mindful art-making, focusing on breath, movement, addressing both the body and the mind, somatic art therapy can help individuals gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and promote holistic healing.
If you would like to have specialized mental health support for your child or yourself, contact us here.
By phone at 514-999-3414 or email us at info@montrealarttherapy.com
We look forward to accompanying you on the healing journey!
Written by Linxuan (Skyler) Li
Edited by Reyhane Namdari
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References:
Carrion, V. G., Weems, C. F., Eliez, S., Patwardhan, A., Brown, W., Ray, R. D., & Reiss, A. L. (2001). Attenuation of frontal asymmetry in pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 50(12), 943–951. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01218-5
Carrion, V. G., Weems, C. F., & Reiss, A. L. (2007). Stress predicts brain changes in children: a pilot longitudinal study on youth stress, posttraumatic stress disorder, and the hippocampus. Pediatrics, 119(3), 509-516.
Huberman, A. (2024, September 23). Dr. Victor Carrión: How to heal from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Huberman Lab. https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-victor-carrion-how-to-heal-from-post-traumatic-stress-disorder