Psychological first aid, in what they consist
When a child falls and a wound is made, the parents know how to proceed: clean it, place a band-aid and recommend that the child try not to perform activities that can infect it. However, what happens when the wound is not physical but is produced at the psychological? Do parents know the first aid to be applied in these situations to their children?
The psychological first aid have been recognized by the World Health Organization, WHO, as one of the most effective methods to quickly tackle crisis situations in this field. A preventive value that can be applied in the day to day of Spanish homes to help the youngest of the house, who having no control over their emotions can face situations that overwhelm them at times.
When to apply these first aid
As it has been said, psychological first aid is applied in extraordinary cases where people face situations that overcome them emotionally. From the Hospital Sant Joan Déu The following contexts are identified to apply these techniques in the smallest of the house:
- Unexpected situation outside of the habitual experiences that it has had until the moment. For example the death of a close relative
- Passenger or permanent change in the child's usual routines. A good example is a move or a new school.
- Fear or intense fear in the child or sensation of abnormality in the family context that causes this fear in the child.
To know if these situations are overwhelming children, it is important to look at their attitudes. These are some symptom that can alert parents:
- Shows more quiet or disturbed than normal
- He does not talk at all. He remains silent and hinders when expressing what is bothering him
- Attitude contrary to the previous world. He demands constant information about something that has happened to him and that seems to overwhelm him.
- Constant fear of being alone and being separated from their parents.
- Emergence of questions about various tragic assumptions: will your parents die ?; Who would take care then? Will he go back to school?
- Alterations of the dream. The child manifests fear of being alone at night, suffering nightmares, getting up scared, etc.
Psychological first aid
If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to proceed to prevent this case from going any further. These are some techniques that can be applied at home:
- Contain. We must try that the child's emotions do not overflow. You should look for a balance between the expression of your emotions and the rational control of these fears. Body contact with the child can help a lot.
- To calm. In a low voice and a kind tone, reasons and reasons must be offered for the child to calm down. Do not blame him for his fears, telling him that if he calms down everything will be better.
- Report. With appropriate language for the child's age, the event should be explained in a simple and honest way, without minimizing it, but not exaggerating its consequences.
- Normalize. The child should be helped to explain how he feels and for that, nothing better than naming the emotions. Once identified, the next step is to make them understand that they are normal on a day-to-day basis, but that they can also be overcome.
Damián Montero
