Dear doctor;

My three-year-old daughter watched a car hit a cat recently and has been having nightmares ever since. She keeps bringing up the cat issues most of the time. Could she be grieving even though the cat wasn’t ours? How should I help my daughter?

Jenine, Kinamba.

Dear Jenine,

Children can suffer from post traumatic stress disorder if they witness or experience a traumatic event. In case of your daughter, it is witnessing  the cat dying after being hit by a car. The severity of symptoms varies depending on the duration of the frightening event, mostly symptoms develop one  month or so after the traumatic experience. and how  old  the child is. A young child cannot express its feelings, hence is more prone to develop these symptoms. A child can have recurrent night mares, lack of attention, loss of interest in usual activities, become more attention seeking and even bed wetting can occur after such an experience. The symptoms may persist in some children as they grow older, necessitating treatment.

Best way is give all support and love possible to your daughter. Do not leave her alone at any time. If possible do not let her sleep alone as well for some days. Tell her some soothing bed time stories. Keep her occupied with cheerful games and stories during day time. Gradually, she will get over the event. If symptoms persist a counsellor can be consulted.