Ben is an 8-year-old who lives in Palatine with his mom, dad and brother, Michael. He came to The Bridge after being hit by a car while riding his bike. After the accident Ben’s demeanor changed. His parents no longer saw him laughing or making jokes and he stopped talking to them about his feelings. 

After several weeks, with the help of a counselor, Ben began to open up. Ben was having trouble sleeping. He was having nightmares and was afraid of the dark. He also was forgetting what people said to him and where he placed things, fighting with his brother more frequently and losing weight due to anxiety. His nightmares continued to increase in intensity.

The counselor met with both Ben and his family. The counselor determined that Ben was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), most likely caused by the accident and the recent death of his grandmother. The counselor educated the parents on PTSD and recommended a psychiatric evaluation.  Ben met with a psychiatrist at The Bridge and was given medication to lessen his anxiety and other symptoms. With medication and counseling, Ben is slowly returning back “to his old self.” He is working on ways to relax, reduce his anxiety and communicate with his family. Ben's family remains supportive, very close and is well on its way to recovery.

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