recognizing traumatic stress in children
Although many of us may experience reactions to stress from time to time, when a child is experiencing child traumatic stress, these reactions interfere with his or her daily life and ability to function and interact with others.
From a psychological perspective, trauma occurs when a child experiences an intense event that threatens or causes harm to his or her emotional and physical well-being. Trauma can be the result of exposure to a natural disaster such as a hurricane or flood or to events such as war and terrorism. Witnessing or being the victim of violence, serious injury, or physical or sexual abuse can be traumatic. Ongoing exposure to feelings of unsafety or insecurity may result in children living in “fight, flight, freeze” mode which impacts their ability to engage in everyday, normal activities such as school and play. Accidents or medical procedures can also result in trauma. It is not up to us to tell a child whether or not they have experienced trauma, every child’s experience and perception is different. It is up to us to validate their feelings and provide them the support they need.
Click on the link below to learn about the signs and symptoms and how you can best support your child.
adverse childhood experiences:
what “aces” means and why it matters to children and adults
Most of us – no matter who we are or where we come from – have experienced some level of adversity in our lives. However, there are wide ranges in the type, severity and frequency of adversity. If it is severe or chronic, it can cause changes to our bodies and may lead to significant health problems.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic events that children experience before age 18, such as violence at home, neglect, abuse, or having a parent with mental illness or substance dependence. High or frequent exposure to ACEs, without the buffering support of a caring adult, can dysregulate children’s stress response.