Trauma
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Child Traumatic Stress
When a child feels intensely threatened by an event he or she is involved in or witnesses, we call that event a trauma. Child traumatic stress (CTS) is a psychological reaction that some children have to a traumatic experience.
There are numerous kinds of traumas, such as:
Children who suffer from CTS have developed reactions to trauma that linger and affect their daily lives long after the traumatic event has ended. These children may experience:
Diagnosis, Treatment and Recovery
Not every child experiences CTS after a trauma. All children are different, and many children are able to adapt to and overcome difficult events and situations. But one out of every four children will experience a traumatic event before the age of sixteen, and some of these children will develop CTS.
Parents, teachers and caregivers should be observant and aware of what children have seen and heard; encourage children to spend time with trusted adults and to express themselves; limit television exposure to traumatic events; promote self-esteem, efficacy and empowerment in the children in their lives.
If a child you know has experienced any of the symptoms or signs of ongoing difficulties following a traumatic experience, it’s important to seek help for them. Foregoing help can have long-lasting consequences, and fortunately, entering treatment can have concrete beneficial results.
Cognitive-behavioral therapies have been proven effective in helping children with CTS. These therapies generally include the following features:
- Automobile accidents
- Serious injuries
- Acts of violence
- Terrorism
- Physical or sexual abuse
- Medical procedures
- The unexpected death of a loved one
- Life-threatening natural disasters
Children who suffer from CTS have developed reactions to trauma that linger and affect their daily lives long after the traumatic event has ended. These children may experience:
- Intense and ongoing emotional upset
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Behavioral changes
- Difficulties at school
- Problems maintaining relationships
- Difficulty eating and sleeping
- Aches and pains
- Withdrawal
- Substance abuse, dangerous behaviors, or unhealthy sexual activity among older children
Diagnosis, Treatment and Recovery
Not every child experiences CTS after a trauma. All children are different, and many children are able to adapt to and overcome difficult events and situations. But one out of every four children will experience a traumatic event before the age of sixteen, and some of these children will develop CTS.
Parents, teachers and caregivers should be observant and aware of what children have seen and heard; encourage children to spend time with trusted adults and to express themselves; limit television exposure to traumatic events; promote self-esteem, efficacy and empowerment in the children in their lives.
If a child you know has experienced any of the symptoms or signs of ongoing difficulties following a traumatic experience, it’s important to seek help for them. Foregoing help can have long-lasting consequences, and fortunately, entering treatment can have concrete beneficial results.
Cognitive-behavioral therapies have been proven effective in helping children with CTS. These therapies generally include the following features:
- Teaching children stress management and relaxation skills
- Creating a coherent narrative or story of what happened
- Correcting untrue or distorted ideas about what happened and why
- Changing unhealthy and wrong views that have resulted from the trauma
- Involving parents in creating optimal recovery environments
Getting Help
If you have concerns or questions, help is available. Go to the find help section of this site for support and services in your area.
Source: National Child Traumatic Stress Network
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