[RubyRae]

I can think back on my childhood and clearly see that I had PTSD ,I just didn't understand what was going on with me,of course.

I think(hope) things are different now and that people in authority are able to recognize when something's not quite right with a child and do something about it,in order to help them.

I know that I had panic attacks starting at a very young age,I know that I was very triggered by things at school and reacted badly.I was abused in ways that were obvious to others,yet nobody questioned it.

The title of this thread probably should have been ",how could anyone not notice?".

Just venting I guess...

[reb569]

I think(hope) things are different now and that people in authority are able to recognize when something's not quite right with a child and do something about it,in order to help them.

I hope you are right. My whole experience in school from elementary right through when I left was that many teachers and staff knew that things were bad for me (and my brothers and sisters) at home, but didn't want to deal with it so ignored it.

The school psychologist spoke to me twice that I remember in my whole school career. The first time was when I was in 6th grade, he asked me some questions about home, I refused to answer, and he sent me back to class. Again in 9th grade after my oldest brother passed away after a car accident. I was in a state of mind where I had stopped speaking except to say yes, no or I don't know, stopped doing homework, took part in nothing. He called me in, asked me if I was ok. I looked at him and thought are you serious? Am I ok? Obviously, I'm totally screwed up right now. But I didn't answer so he sent me back to class. No follow up either time.

I do know that when my daughter was in her senior year (same school, different staff of course) she was struggling very badly with depression, was hospitalized, and when I met with her guidance counselor and the high school principle about her coming back to school, the guidance counselor actually told me that, "We noticed that she'd been struggling for the last couple years but didn't realize that it was that bad." Really? Not one call to ask, hey is everything ok with your daughter? We noticed some things that are concerning us. Nope. Nothing. Imagine my surprise when I spoke to the school social worker a month after she was back in school, only to find out that they never even referred her to him. He had no idea that her hospitalization was related to depression, he thought it was for medical reasons. Despite the guidance office having concerns for over a year, they never referred her to the social worker. Once he was aware, he was a huge help and got her through her senior year. She graduated last year. So, I have my doubts that things are a lot better. At least when it comes to MI issues.

[RubyRae]

I was considered a problem child in school,always in trouble,always getting suspended,in the principals office every week for one thing or another in high school.I believe if someone had noticed,if someone had done something when I was younger it wouldn't have escalated to being expelled and not finishing school.

It makes me really sad to read things haven't changed since then.

[elevatedsoul]

everyone told me i was a genius...
i dont remember very much at all
i think i always just tried to blend in
the quiet one
only to stay out of the spotlight though...
yet everyone was attracted to me,
or so it felt like the light was always on me
always having to be someone else...
always having to be ok

i dunno how i was able to function at all
much less all that

crazy...

i wish teachers were trained in psychology to recognize things in children...
behaviors, that way if things are going on at home the teachers could help the kids... atleast contact the parents or something...

[Unrigged64072835]

Both my daughter and I had problems in school because of MI and abuse issues. I don't think much has changed.