PTSD-Children and Death Part I

One of the most difficult aspects of your PTSd spouse committing suicide involves how to explain that death to your children. It's hard to accept as an adult, never mind as a child. We don't talk about it because we don't know how.

If we don't talk about it, the children may end up blaming theirselves for their parent's loss. They think, "Maybe I was bad. or Maybe mom/dad doesn't love me, etc..."

Knowing what to tell children depends on your religious beliefs, their developmental age and prior experiences. Preschool children see death much like they view cartoons- as reversible. From ages 5-9, kids gradually begin to understand death is final. They see plants or animals die.
Somewhere between age 9 and adolescence, they come to think of death as something that can happen to them but still think of theirself as invincible. Hence- they take more risks.

Talking to the younger kids should be brief, simple and concrete. "Mommy still loves us. She won't get hungry or cold." To be continued.

God Bless-
ANJYL