Understanding Childhood Trauma: How to Process and Cope

More than two thirds of sixteen-year-olds will have experienced at least one traumatic event. To put this in context, reports indicate there are close to 70 million children in the US. This trauma may continue with the child and affect their development and growth into adulthood. It is important that childhood trauma is understood and dealt with.

Defining childhood trauma

In general, childhood trauma is when a child is exposed to a dangerous or threatening situation. This can be through what they witness, hear about, or understand that their parents experienced. Something that is experienced as traumatic for one child may not be for another.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is often the result of childhood trauma. If the child experiences a safe and supportive environment, then the likelihood of experiencing PTSD is diminished. Despite this, a single event or series of them can both have traumatic effects into adulthood.

Children who go through these typical traumatic experiences are often left traumatized:

• Experiencing domestic violence.
• Growing up with a caregiver affected by a significant mental illness.
• Institutional racism in a school or community environment.
• Losing a loved one through divorce, death, or separation .
• Violence at home, school, or in the community.

Tragically childhood trauma is experienced by millions of children, and the signs of it can vary. So, it is important for parents to keep a close eye on their children. Look out for changes in their eating and sleeping patterns as well as their academic performance. These could be affected by events that could be traumatic for them.

Signs that caregivers can keep watch for include:

• Academic performance changes.
• Anxiety that lasts a long time.
• Appetite changes.
• Avoiding certain places, people and things.
• Behavioral changes.
• Being distracted easily.
• Feeling unusually sad or fearful.
• Hypersensitivity.
• Problem with authority figures.
• Sleeping difficulties.
• Stopping activities that were previously enjoyable.
• Volatile emotions.

The child’s age, experiences, support system, and level of maturity all impact their response to trauma

Finding support

Parents who know their child has experienced a traumatic event are strongly advised to make use of the skills and services around them to get professional help in assessing the needs of the child. The first step will be to go to the child’s pediatrician to look at the symptoms and ensure there is no physical or medical illness.

Once your child’s doctor is content that possible physical causes of the symptoms are addressed you should seek out mental health services to support your child. Your doctor or others in the profession may have contact details of mental health providers who specialize in child counseling.

Remember the vital role that a mental health provider will play in the life of your child and do not rush the process. Look for someone who is well recognized, and who has experience in trauma-informed care specializing in children, and ask for a recommendation from your child’s pediatrician or someone else you trust.

Getting help.

Coming to a deeper understanding of childhood trauma is a significant journey. If you are looking for additional help to deal with childhood trauma and make a good decision regarding possible treatment, for your child, or yourself for that matter, then please browse our online counselor directory or contact our office to schedule an appointment. We would be honored to walk with you on this journey.