SIGNS OF TRAUMA IN A CHILD MANUAL

acts of violence, including hate crimes and terrorismĬhildhood trauma may have long-term effects that affect how you live your life as an adult.natural disasters (witnessing, experiencing, or losing loved ones to one).loss of a loved one, sudden or anticipatedĮnvironmental adversity and social influences.exposure to domestic violence and intimate partner violence.other experiences involving pain or injury.In general, traumatic experiences for a child may include: Abuse What may affect one child may not have the same impact on another. Instead, it’s listed as a possible contributing factor for several mental health conditions, including anxiety and mood disorders.īecause of this, there isn’t a formal list of causes or symptoms of trauma.

SIGNS OF TRAUMA IN A CHILD MANUAL

But what’s traumatic for you may not be for someone else, and vice versa.Ĭhildhood trauma isn’t a formal diagnosis in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5 th Edition (DSM-5). Trauma usually involves circumstances that are perceived as highly threatening - physically, emotionally, or both. When you are ready, open your eyes.Childhood trauma, also known as developmental trauma, is any significant experience that overwhelms a child’s ability to function and cope. Very softly begin to wiggle your fingers and toes. Notice the feeling of the air on your skin. Now, very gradually, begin to notice your breathing again – the gentle rhythm of inhales and exhales. This is a place you can always come back to, which is always there, inside your heart. This place is safe, and you can relax here. The sky is blue and open, and birds are flying and singing above. The sand beneath your bare feet is soft and warm. The sun is rising slowly, and you can feel the warm light on your face and your body. It’s early in the morning, and everything is quiet. “Imagine that you are standing on a white sandy beach.

Listen and follow the story in your mind.

Gentle long inhales then gentle long exhales

Take several deep slow breaths through your nose and into your belly.

Sit or lie down in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and relax.

Here’s an activity to help your child imagine such a place. By taking a moment to imagine being somewhere calm without stress, children can feel less stressed. Sometimes the world around us can feel overwhelming.

Explain that when your child inhales, they are blowing up their tummy softly like a balloon, and when they exhale the air is going slowly out of the balloon again.

Take 5 deep breaths, spend 5 seconds breathing in and 5 seconds breathing out, breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth.

Abdominal breathing is very calming and helps us to draw oxygen deep into our lungs. Often when we are stressed our breathing becomes shallow, high in our chests, and we forget to breathe deeply into our bellies, or abdomens. These activities are also beneficial for you and can be done with your child together. These activities can be done with your child to help reduce stress and provide them with positive coping strategies that support their well-being. This may help some children talk about how they feel, whereas other children may be happy to show the picture without discussion, let the child decide.Īctivities to reduce stress and support your child’s well-being Ask them to tell you more about the picture, what they have drawn, or why they used a specific colour, for example. One check-in method is to ask your child to draw or paint a picture. To check-in emotionally is to ask children “how they are” in a direct or indirect way.

Physical symptoms of not feeling well shaking, headaches, loss of appetite, aches, and pain.

Does not respond to others, does not speak.

Withdrawn or very quiet with little or no movement.

Very serious distress reactions in children if they occur most of the timeĬhildren who demonstrate these signs over a prolonged period of time will need specialist support. These may also be signs of physical illness, so please take your child to see a doctor to rule out any physical condition.

Frequently talks about the event or repetitive play.

Becoming more Inactive or more hyperactive.

Changes in sleeping and eating patterns.

Regressing to former (younger) behaviours.Clinging to their caregivers more than normal.If these reactions last for a prolonged period of time, the child may need specialist support.

Many of these reactions only last for a short time, and are normal reactions to stressful events.

Signs of trauma in a child