How Children React to Trauma

Source: National Institute of Mental Health (extract)

Children’s reactions to trauma can be immediate. Reactions may also appear much later. Reactions differ in severity. They also cover a range of behaviors. People from different cultures may have their own ways of reacting. Other reactions vary according to age.

One common response is loss of trust. Another is fear of the event reoccurring. Some children are more vulnerable to trauma’s effects. Children with existing mental health problems may be more affected. Children who have experienced other traumatic events may be more affected.

Children Age 5 and Under

Children under five can react in a number of ways:

• Facial expressions of fear
• Clinging to parent or caregiver
• Crying or screaming
• Whimpering or trembling
• Moving aimlessly
• Becoming immobile
• Returning to behaviors common to being younger
• Thumb sucking
• Bedwetting
• Being afraid of the dark.

Young children’s reactions are strongly influenced by parent reactions to the event.

Children Age 6 to 11

Children between six and 11 have a range of reactions. They may:

• Isolate themselves
• Become quiet around friends, family, and teachers
• Have nightmares or other sleep problems
• Become irritable or disruptive
• Have outbursts of anger
• Start fights
• Be unable to concentrate
• Refuse to go to school
• Complain of unfounded physical problems
• Develop unfounded fears
• Become depressed
• Become filled with guilt
• Feel numb emotionally
• Do poorly with school and homework.

Adolescents Age 12 to 17

Children between 12 and 17 have various reactions:

• Flashbacks to the traumatic event (flashbacks are the mind reliving the event)
• Avoiding reminders of the event
• Drug, alcohol, tobacco use and abuse
• Antisocial behavior i.e. disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behavior
• Physical complaints
• Nightmares or other sleep problems
• Isolation or confusion
• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts.

Adolescents may feel guilty about the event. They may feel guilt for not preventing injury or deaths. They may also have thoughts of revenge.

More About Trauma and Stress

Some children will have prolonged problems after a traumatic event. These may include grief, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Children may show a range of symptoms:

• Re-experiencing the event
• Through play
• Through trauma-specific nightmares/ dreams
• In flashbacks and unwanted memories
• By distress over events that remind them of the trauma
• Avoidance of reminders of the event
• Lack of responsiveness
• Lack of interest in things that used to interest them
• A sense of having “no future”
• Increased sleep disturbances
• Irritability
• Poor concentration
• Be easily startled
• Behavior from earlier life stages.

Children experience trauma differently. It is difficult to tell how many will develop mental health problems. Some trauma survivors get better with only good support. Others need counseling by a mental health professional.

If, after a month in a safe environment:

• Children are not able to perform normal routines
• New symptoms develop

Then, contact a health professional.

Some people are more sensitive to trauma. Factors that may influence how someone may respond include:

• Being directly involved in the trauma, especially as a victim
• Severe and/or prolonged exposure to the event
• Personal history of prior trauma
• Family or personal history of mental illness and severe behavioral problems
• Lack of social support
• Lack of caring family and friends
• On-going life stressors such as moving to a new home, or new school, divorce, job change, financial troubles.

Some symptoms may require immediate attention. Contact a mental health professional if these symptoms occur:

• Flashbacks
• Racing heart and sweating
• Being easily startled
• Being emotionally numb
• Being very sad or depressed
• Thoughts or actions to end life

Source: National Institute of Mental Health (extract)
Added: 30th June 2007

Related Links

Coping with Trauma After Violence and Disasters - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Helping Young Trauma Survivors - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

What is Trauma? - National Institute of Mental Health Article (extract)

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