The response to the trauma situation varies from every child based on what the traumatic event was. A child may start having nightmares or may experience trouble in sleeping; they could become solitary and sad. They may start wetting the bed or sucking their thumbs. All children experience the feelings of fear, sadness, anger, helplessness and guilt after a traumatic event, this is quite normal.
Traumatic experiences for children come in different forms from a bike accident, first day in school, the move to a new house with new neighbors and faces, to sexual abuse by adults or family members.
Children respond differently from adults' during and after a traumatic experience. With children, there are a lot of things that we do not see. Most children will continue to think about the traumatic event, they may feel guilty or blame themselves and wonder if it will happen again. Children struggle with all of these things whereas many adults don't feel the same as they have previous experiences to compare events (such as, the hurt of a break up, the loss of a friend, the death of a pet, first day at the office...etc) Basically, people feel shocked, numbed, or unwilling to accept what has happened after a traumatic event.
Here are some cases of children experiencing traumas:
1. A child who had a bike accident, at that moment, is stunned and frightened for the bike's damage; he / she may be concerned that his / her parents might get angry at what happened. Thoughts of denial occur: should I tell them the truth or just behave as though it hasn't happened?
2. Another example is the new kid on the block. This child is confronted with new faces, different terrain and a new school campus. They are anxious and worry about getting lost, wondering what to do at the end of school is no picks them up whether the other children will like them or if the teacher is mean.
3. Consider the case of a teenage girl whose boyfriend leaves her. Over several hours or days, the feelings of shock overwhelmed her and she isolates herself from her environment. She feels betrayed, the fear of being alone engulfs her, and her self confidence diminishes. She feels helpless and vulnerable.
Children who experience traumatic events in their lives react differently and have different approaches in coming to terms with what has happened. The feelings of shock, denial, anger, fear, sadness and guilt will gradually fade and other thoughts and feelings will take their place. However, sometimes these traumatic experiences develop into anxiety which leads to sleepless nights, eating disorders, and eventually to depression. If the symptoms of anxiety continue after a traumatic, you should consult a professional counselor immediately.
Traumatic experiences for children come in different forms from a bike accident, first day in school, the move to a new house with new neighbors and faces, to sexual abuse by adults or family members.
Children respond differently from adults' during and after a traumatic experience. With children, there are a lot of things that we do not see. Most children will continue to think about the traumatic event, they may feel guilty or blame themselves and wonder if it will happen again. Children struggle with all of these things whereas many adults don't feel the same as they have previous experiences to compare events (such as, the hurt of a break up, the loss of a friend, the death of a pet, first day at the office...etc) Basically, people feel shocked, numbed, or unwilling to accept what has happened after a traumatic event.
Here are some cases of children experiencing traumas:
1. A child who had a bike accident, at that moment, is stunned and frightened for the bike's damage; he / she may be concerned that his / her parents might get angry at what happened. Thoughts of denial occur: should I tell them the truth or just behave as though it hasn't happened?
2. Another example is the new kid on the block. This child is confronted with new faces, different terrain and a new school campus. They are anxious and worry about getting lost, wondering what to do at the end of school is no picks them up whether the other children will like them or if the teacher is mean.
3. Consider the case of a teenage girl whose boyfriend leaves her. Over several hours or days, the feelings of shock overwhelmed her and she isolates herself from her environment. She feels betrayed, the fear of being alone engulfs her, and her self confidence diminishes. She feels helpless and vulnerable.
Children who experience traumatic events in their lives react differently and have different approaches in coming to terms with what has happened. The feelings of shock, denial, anger, fear, sadness and guilt will gradually fade and other thoughts and feelings will take their place. However, sometimes these traumatic experiences develop into anxiety which leads to sleepless nights, eating disorders, and eventually to depression. If the symptoms of anxiety continue after a traumatic, you should consult a professional counselor immediately.
About the Author:
PS Counselling are qualified psychologists in Hawthorn, Victoria specialising in working with children who are experiencing childhood trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder, depression and anxiety. Find out more about recognizing anxiety in children
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