Childhood Trauma

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Traumatic events happen. They may be large events that impact the whole country or the whole civilized world; or they may be events that affect an individual, a family, a neighborhood, or a community. Regardless of their scope, these events can have a powerful impact on anyone caught in their repercussions. As an analogy, one can experience the same effect standing next to a small explosion as they would standing further away from a large one.

As we all try to deal with and comprehend the uncertainties of current events, we must also keep in mind the impact they are having on our children and help them learn to deal with it as well. Young people often do not have enough life experience to keep things in perspective and, because of this, fear can become overwhelming. The following are some common reactions you may see in children who are experiencing trauma. Reactions will vary with the age and developmental stage of the child or adolescent. Generally, older youth will have a need to talk about it and to be reminded of the skills they have to deal with trauma. Younger children will need more reassurance that things are okay and to know who they should to go to for help.

The following are some developmental reactions and responses compiled by the Prevention and Community Response Unit of the Washtenaw County Public Health Department that parents and other adults can use to help their children come to terms with their feelings and emotions during this difficult time.

Common Reactions & Appropriate Responses from Adults

Generalized fear

Cognitive confusion, e.g. do not understand that the danger is over

Helplessness, passivity, e.g. may become mute, withdrawn, and still

Anxious attachment to caregiver, e.g. clinging, not want to be away from caregiver, may not want to sleep alone

Sleep disturbances, e.g. night terrors

Regressive reactions, e.g. toileting, dressing, speech

May engage in reenactments and play about the event, sometimes with magical qualities/character of the event

Incomplete understanding of death, e.g. permanency of death, association with sleep, a desire to fix up the deceased

Difficulty identifying and expressing what is wrong, e.g. periodic sadness

Response

Need rapid reassurance that they will be OK and taken care of

Reestablish familiar adult protection

Give repeated concrete clarifications of what has happened and anticipate their concerns

Provide support, rest, comfort, food and opportunities to play

Provide consistent care taking, e.g. assurance of being picked up at school, keeping a regular meal schedule, bedtime and when caregivers will be home

Be as tolerant as possible with regressive behavior; it is temporary

Try to remove the association of what happened with specific triggers/reminders, e.g. playgrounds, cars

Explain of the reality of death in age appropriate terms, when the child is open; e.g. a private moment or while reading

Impaired concentration and learning affecting performance at school

Radical change in behavior, e.g. quiet child becomes active, active child, lethargic

Somatic complaints such as headaches

Retelling the event with great detail and savior endings

Preoccupation with their behavior during or leading up to the event with feelings of guilt and responsibility

Specific fears triggered by reminders or while alone

Fear of being overwhelmed by their own feelings

May have increasing difficulty controlling their own behavior and feel frightened by this lack of control

Response

Allow enough free supervised time for play or expression through art, music or dance

Encourage your child to let you or the teacher know that they may be having a hard time concentrating while at school. Explain that this might happen and is normal.

Try to be patient with any behavior changes

Reassure the child that they will be safe and there are people around to help

Help your child associate emotional and physical sensations they may have had during the event and suggest ways of helping them feel better, e.g. changing the subject, doing something else

As with play, allow time to talk, acknowledge the normalcy of their reactions, what secret images they may have and what specific reminders they may have

The supportive presence of adults will help the child not be so overwhelmed and help remind them that feelings lead to actions they may not like or they cannot control. Help them establish a sense of control by allowing them to do something pro-active such as organizing a collection drive, making cards to send those in need, or making red white and blue ribbons for their friends and classmates to wear.

Age: 10 - 14
Reaction

Become more childlike in attitude

Be very angry at the unfairness of the event

Manifest euphoria and excitement at survival

See symbolic meaning to things that led up to the event and assign symbolic reasons for survival

Suppress thoughts and feelings to avoid confronting the event

Be self-judgmental about their own behavior

Have a sense of meaninglessness of existence

Manifest psychosomatic illnesses

Response

Try to respond to the emotions that are underlying the behavior and reinforce more mature behavior by including them in the resolution of problems

Encourage talking about the event in private moments. Discussions in front of others can lead to emotional reactions.

Encourage supervised/supportive discussions about the event with peers if peers have been part of the event. Peers can inflame the reaction if not given some support and guidance.

Provide realistic assessments of personal responsibility and what could have been done

Help keep things in perspective, e.g. These feelings will not last forever. You can shape your own future.

Help them establish a sense of control by allowing them to do something pro-active such as organizing a collection drive, making cards to send those in need, or making red white and blue ribbons for their friends and classmates to wear

Age: Adolescent to Adult
Reaction

Feel anger, shame, betrayal and act out these feelings in school or the community

May want to move into the adult world to get away from traumatic events and establish a sense of control over their world

Very judgmental about their behavior and that of others

Eating and sleeping disorders

May have an enhanced sense of immortality or an increased sense of hopelessness

Depression

Alcohol and drug use may become a problem

May engage in high-risk behavior

May have a fear of being labeled abnormal

Response

Acting out may be a way of pushing the event away. Help them understand that might be what is going on.

Encourage postponing major decisions in order to allow time for emotions to settle down and to grieve if necessary

Speak to emotions that are underlying the behavior. This must be a very frustrating, angry time.

Help them understand the adult nature of what they are feeling, encourage peer understanding and support

Help them to not overreact to the impact this may have on their lives, help them grow from it, not lost in it

Acknowledge the depressed feeling that may come and that is survivable and normal

Acknowledge the anger they may be feeling, and explain how it can contribute to their sense of being out of control and wanting to do something

Encourage them to do something pro-active such as donating blood if old enough or volunteering to help at the Red Cross or other organizations

For all ages:

Give reassurance and hugs

Assure them they and their families are safe (if this is the case)

Limit their exposure to graphic details

Let them talk and reassure them

Solicit their ideas and feelings

Compiled by Michael B. Murphy

For more information please contact any of the following members of

Prevention and Community Response Services of Washtenaw County Public Health:

Gary Logan, 734/ 544-6811, logang@ewashtenaw.org

Michelle Rose-Armstrong, 734/ 544-2911, rosem@ewashtenaw.org

Public Health Switchboard: 734/ 544-6700

This page last updated 2/01/07