Signs of Trauma in Children

From "Raising Our Children to Be Resilient: A Guide to Helping Children  Cope With Trauma in Today's World" By Linda Goldman (2004)

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Children usually respond to a traumatic event with common identifying factors such as re-experiencing the event through play re-enactment, nightmares, reoccurring waking memories, and disturbing thoughts and feelings. Some children may exhibit post-traumatic play by compulsively repeating some aspect of the trauma.
 
After the death of his Aunt Joan in the World Trade Centers, five-year-old Tommy continually creates the Twin Towers with blocks, and then knocks them down. Young children often use play as a grief therapy technique to re-enact a situation.Ten-year-old Alice's mom died in the Pentagon crash. She repeatedly blames herself. Her mom had felt sick that morning. "If only I made her stay home she still would be alive." 
 
Children may magically believe they are capable of recognizing warning signs to predict a future trauma. Jane imagines that if she can only stay hyper alert, listening through the night for airplanes in the sky, she can avoid another terrorist trauma from happening at her house.
 
Traumatized children may feel unable to change the event, unable to stop the scary and sad feelings, and unable to see that life can be different. Sometimes kids avoid reminders of the traumatic event and show little conscious interest. Many withdraw and isolate themselves or become anxious and fearful. Traumatized boys and girls may exhibit hyper-arousal; the extreme sensitivity and reactivity to stimuli.  This manifests in increased sleep problems, irritability, inability to concentrate, startle reactions, and regressive behaviors. 
 
Traumatized Kids Often
 
1. Re-experience the traumatic event through play re-enactment, nightmares, flashbacks, and disturbing thoughts and feelings about the event.
2. Sometimes avoid any reminders of the disaster, showing little conscious interest
3. Exhibit generalized fears that manifest in boys and girls through stranger or   separation anxiety, avoidance of situations that may or may not appear to be related to the trauma, sleep disturbances, and preoccupation with words or symbols that may be directly or indirectly related to the trauma.
 
An Everyday Trauma
 
Susie was terrorized on a walk with her dad. A dog suddenly attacked her. She had twenty-seven stitches on her face and several operations for months preceding the incident. Her dad asked for some guidance,  saying he was flooded with feelings about the dog and it's owner but "Susie appeared fine and didn't even talk about what happened." Asking Dad if the family had a dog, he explained they had no dog but had just gotten a kitten for Susie.  "What did Susie name the kitten?" I asked. Dad responded, "Stitches".
 
Traumatized children often have difficulty putting these behaviors into any context of safety as the harsh and overwhelming feelings engulf them when they least expect it. Many withdraw and isolate themselves, regress and appear anxious, distance themselves from the incident, or create sleep and eating disorders as a mask for their deep interpretations of their trauma.

Children often respond to a traumatic event with fear, terror, and extreme vulnerability.
 
Children's Trauma Reactions
 
Trauma can create distorted perceptions of self in children.
"I know I'm ugly now."

Trauma creates guilt.
"It's my fault my mom died. I should have made her stay home that day."

Trauma reactions may override grief responses. Fear may override sadness.
"I'm so sad my mom died in the fire. But I'm too scared to cry."

Trauma creates nightmares of dying or being hurt.
"Last night I dreamt I was in a car crash. I was so frightened."

Trauma usually creates the overriding feeling of terror.
"I can't concentrate on homework. I worry a plane will crash into my house. I'm afraid I'll die.

Trauma commonly produces angry, sometimes combative reactions.
"If I ever found the guy that murdered my brother, I'd kill him!!!!

 
 
 
Linda Goldman
7801 Connecticut Ave.
Chevy Chase, Md. 20815
301 657 1151

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