Post-traumatic stress disorder in children PTSD is a clinical anxiety disorder with significant behavioral, cognitive, social, physical, and emotional symptoms. It is triggered by a traumatic event. These event can be witnessing or becoming a victim of sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence, car accidents or natural disasters. The risk of developing this disorder is related to the severity of the trauma, the proximity of the child to the trauma, and the child's relationship to the victim. See also : Anxiety Disorders in Children PTSD Symptoms in Children Days or months after the traumatic event, the child may initially show confused or agitated behavior. They begin to feel intense fear, sadness, anger and helplessness. Those who have experienced repeated trauma sometimes develop a kind of emotional numbing called dissociation. Children with PTSD tend to avoid places, situations and people who remind them of the traumatic experience. They may also become