Diana runs away from the war to find a new home (PORTO-01-EN)

Diana is 18 years old and the youngest of three children. Her country was at war when she had to flee, leaving behind her father and brother to fight in the war. She also left her grandparents, who did not want to leave the country, and good friends. She speaks English reasonably well, but most of her classes are in the language of the new country and she finds it very difficult to follow the class.

The images of everything she saw in the war keep coming back constantly. She has recurring nightmares and often wakes up screaming, crying, and sweating. She feels there is no point in attaching herself to anyone, because she may have to separate from them at any moment.

Several teachers have noticed that she seems oblivious to everything going on around her, often arriving and leaving the room alone. When she hears some more intense sounds, such as an object falling, she reacts with a startle and tries to hold back her tears. The other day, she left the room crying and came back at the end to apologise to the teacher for leaving unexpectedly. The teacher felt this was the opportunity to address the situation.

The trauma-informed teacher accepts that the behaviour in the classroom may be the manifestation of a psychological crisis rather than inappropriate behaviour;

The teacher asked her about what she considered to be the source of this situation and if she accepted/wanted to talk about it (empathic response – exploration);

The teacher recognised the symptoms of post-traumatic stress (i.e., emotions, thoughts, behaviours, and bodily sensations);

The teacher applied an empathetic supportive approach, namely the components of validation, respect, and alliance;

The teacher told her that the university had a psychological support office and how she could enroll.

The teacher suggested self-help educational material with strategies to help her deal with the anxiety.