Mental & emotional support for trauma

Traumatic early childhood events are experiences that compromise the safety and security of young children, ages birth to 3. These could include:

• Accidents
• Intentional violence (physical or sexual abuse)
• Loss of a parent/caregiver
• Neglect
• Painful medical procedures
• Yelling and threats of danger

Traumatic childhood events are experiences that compromise the safety and security of school-age children, ages 4 to 10. These traumatic events can be things like:

• Community violence involving people outside of a child’s family (shooting, rape, robberies, etc.)
• Complex traumas that begin early and are sustained for an extended period of time (abuse, neglect and domestic violence)
• Isolated acts of abuse or neglect, which could include a lack of clothing, food and shelter or bouts of hitting, kicking or sexual abuse
• Medical trauma resulting from a procedure or an illness/injury causing extreme pain
• Natural disasters, such as a tornado, flood or hurricane
• Refugee trauma as a result of torture, war or political violence (shooting, bombing, forced replacement from home, etc.)
• School violence or threats of violence to students and teachers (school shootings, fights, bullying, etc.)
• Terrorism or calculated attacks intended to instill panic and psychological damage
• Traumatic grief after the sudden or anticipated death of a close loved one

For teens and young adults, traumatic events are experiences that compromise their safety and security. These could be things like:

• Disruption in family life (separation, divorce, death of a loved one, parent incarceration, etc.)
• Experience in the foster or child welfare system
• Exposure to the criminal justice system
• Human trafficking and human servitude
• Involvement with drug and alcohol use
• Isolated incidences of violence and abuse
• Ongoing physical or emotional trauma (abuse or neglect)
• Seeing violence, crime or abuse in the community
• Witnessing domestic violence or emotional abuse at home

It is important to know that what might be considered trauma for one person might not be trauma for someone else. It is always a good idea to seek out support from a professional counselor if you believe you or someone you know has been traumatized.

References

• https://www.healthline.com/health/traumatic-events
• https://www.ecmhc.org/tutorials/trauma/mod1_3.html
• https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/ptsd.html
• https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types

Someone who has experienced trauma might display the following attitudes and behaviors:

• Anxiety and fear
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling numb, withdrawn and helpless
• Guilt and self-blame
• Mood swings and irritability
• Muscle tension, aches and pains
• Nightmares and trouble sleeping
• Racing heartbeat
• Shock and denial

References

• https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/coping-with-emotional-and-psychological-trauma.htm
• https://www.psychguides.com/trauma/

Young children cannot adequately communicate their fear or helplessness in words, so they use actions and behaviors to express their feelings. Common behaviors of a child who has experienced trauma include:

• Difficult time separating from parents at school
• Loss of previously acquired developmental skills, such as speech and potty training
• Lowered IQ and ability to regulate emotions
• Reduction in brain size and functioning
• Strained relationships with parents and other adults
• Trouble sleeping because of nightmares and/or night terrors
• Unwillingness to play outside without a family member
• Use imaginative play to attempt to change the outcome of a traumatic event

If you believe a child is exhibiting signs of childhood trauma, seek out support from a professional counselor. There are many qualified mental health resources available here in Stark County.

References

• https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/ptsd.html
• https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/trauma/supporting-students-experiencing-childhood-trauma-tips-for-parents-and-educators
• https://www.samhsa.gov/child-trauma/recognizing-and-treating-child-traumatic-stress

Whether they last days, months or years, the effects of emotional trauma generally tend to fade over time but resurface periodically. Symptoms are most likely to come back after emotional triggers, such as an anniversary or something that reminds you of the event.

The loss of a friend or family member can be extremely hard on anyone. Difficult losses affect everyone at some point in their lives, and the grieving process is very different from one person to the next. If you or someone you know is showing the following signs, a grief counselor may be able to help:

Physical signs

• Constantly tired with trouble sleeping
• Feeling anxious, irritable and unable to sit still
• Frequent aches, pains and discomfort
• Weight fluctuations and changes in eating behaviors

Grief stages

• Denial after the immediate shock of the loss
• Anger aimed at people or things in an attempt to mask pain and vulnerability
• Bargaining, or asking “what if” questions to try to change the outcome
• Depression and deep mourning with feelings of sadness and regret
• Acceptance of the loss with a sense of peace and hope for the future

References

• https://www.webmd.com/balance/normal-grieving-and-stages-of-grief

Other Helpful Links

• Child Mind Institute Trauma and Grief Guide – Resources, parenting advice and treatment recommendations for young people suffering from trauma and grief.
• Grief.com – Events, articles and information to help support people of all ages who are coping with grief.
• HelpGuide.org Grief Resources – Articles and guides to support people after the loss of a loved one.
• National Alliance for Grieving Children – Toolkits, articles and guides for grieving children as they recover from trauma and loss.
• Open to Hope – Helping people who have experienced grief and loss to find hope in recovery.
• Signs of Complicated Grief – Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment recommendations from Mayo Clinic.

The whole family is affected when there is trauma, but each individual family member is affected in different ways. For that reason, treatment in Stark County is typically a mixture of individual, parent and family sessions. When working with children and adolescents, clinicians are likely to use art and play techniques to facilitate some components of the treatment models. Some children are better able to share their trauma by acting it out with dolls or drawing pictures of what happened instead of relying solely on words.

It is always a good idea to seek out support from a professional trauma counselor if you believe you or someone you love has been traumatized. You may want to reach out for help if you:

• Are struck with terrifying memories or flashbacks
• Avoid people and places that remind you of the trauma
• Feel numb, withdrawn and disconnected
• Get overwhelmed with anxiety or depression
• Have trouble functioning in daily life
• Use alcohol, drugs or other harmful coping strategies

References

• https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/traumatic-stress.htm
• https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/back-school-understanding-trauma

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