I once had
a 1st grade student in my class who experienced a traumatic
experience coping with a new diagnosis.
This particular student was diagnosed with Alopecia. In her situation, she began losing clumps of her
hair every time she brushed it or put her fingers in it. At first, I had no idea what was happening
and to my knowledge just thought it was like any female who sheds hair. I waited a couple of days to see if her mom
would tell me before I would have to approach her. Luckily for me, he mom did come and approach
me and explained what it was, but that there really was nothing they could do
other than give her a shot in her head which at that time they chose to not do.
In less than a month, the little girl had a large bald spot toward the bottom
and back of her head.
To me, this
would be very traumatic and cause a lot of stress in a little girls life. Really, this would be a stressor to any
female at any age. But, for a first grader, she handled it very well. She was
such a strong little girl. In class, she
would come up to me about it and ask me questions. Not knowing much about it, I
would give her different ways to stay positive and explain that God is watching
over her. It was hard to give advice
because I knew little knowledge of what was even going on, so I went home to
research it that way if she were to approach me again, I would know more about
what she was talking about and hopefully could ease her mind a little more.
The ways
that this strong little girl coped was by talking to people about what was
happening and the process of what she had to look forward to. Which, by the end
of the year she had gotten that shot in her head to help it. When the other children would frequently ask
her about all her hair falling out, she quickly became comfortable explaining
it to them, which were another way to eliminate a stressor because we all then
know what was happening. In addition,
she coped with her disease by asking questions and being around people who were
staying positive for her. Deep down, her mother was falling apart, but her
mother would never show her how she really felt as to not get her upset.
Like the child
I had first-hand experience with, children in South Africa have their own set
of stressors. The stressors in Southern Africa are: the link between HIV/ADIS,
food insecurity, poverty, and children’s vulnerability now and in the future. The people and children of southern Africa
are finding it hard to cope with the amount of stressors they are dealing
with. Children may also be removed from
school to eliminate school costs. Girls are also married off at a young age as
another way to cope.
References:
Drimie, S. &
Casale, M. (2009, September). Multiple stressors in Southern Africa: the link
between HIV/AIDS, food insecurity, poverty and children’s vulnerability now and
in the future [Abstract]. AIDS Care, 21(S1): 28-33. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904441/
