By Wai Leng Boh, Clinical Psychologist
Childhood is often perceived as a time of innocence, joy, and carefree exploration. However, for many individuals, childhood may also be marred by traumatic experiences that can have lasting effects on their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
What is trauma?
A traumatic experience is any event in life that threatens our safety and potentially places our own life or lives of others at risk. This can lead to high levels of emotional, psychological, and physical distress, which temporarily disrupts a person’s ability to function normally in daily life. Traumatic events can happen at any age, can happen to anyone, and can cause long-lasting harm. Everyone has a different reaction to trauma, so you might notice any effects quickly, or a long time afterwards. It is estimated that 75% of Australian adults have experienced a traumatic event at some point in their life (Productivity Commission estimates using ABS 2009). Around two thirds of children will experience a potentially traumatic event by the time they turn 16.
‘Big T’ and ‘little t’ trauma
A traumatic experience is any event in life that threatens our safety and potentially places our own life or lives of others at risk. This can lead to high levels of emotional, psychological, and physical distress, which temporarily disrupts a person’s ability to function normally in daily life. Traumatic events can happen at any age, can happen to anyone, and can cause long-lasting harm. Everyone has a different reaction to trauma, so you might notice any effects quickly, or a long time afterwards. It is estimated that 75% of Australian adults have experienced a traumatic event at some point in their life (Productivity Commission estimates using ABS 2009). Around two thirds of children will experience a potentially traumatic event by the time they turn 16.
How do children respond to trauma? Is it any different from adults?
Children and adolescents can experience various problems after a traumatic event. Their brains are still developing, and the brain areas involved in emotional regulation, memory, and stress response are particularly susceptible to the impact of trauma.
One crucial difference in how children respond to trauma is their limited cognitive capacity to fully understand and process the traumatic experiences. Children may lack the cognitive and emotional maturity to make sense of the trauma, leading to confusion, fear, and distress. They may struggle to put their emotions into words and may have difficulty expressing their thoughts and feelings.
Some common signs of trauma in young children:
- Avoidant, anxious, clingy
- General fearfulness/new fears
- Helplessness, passive, low frustration
- Restless, impulsive, hyperactive
- Physical symptoms (headache, etc.)
- Difficulty identifying what is bothering them
- Inattention, difficulty problem solving
- Daydreaming or dissociation
- Irritability
- Aggressive behaviour
- Regression in development, displaying behaviours that are younger than their chronological age.
Each child is different, and how they respond to trauma depends on multiple factors, including the severity of the event, the chronological age of the child, the developmental stage of the child, the level of support in the child’s caregiver, and the type of environment the child is exposed to.
Despite the sobering impact of childhood trauma, there is hope for healing and recovery. A crucial element in dealing with childhood trauma is the development of secure and supportive relationships. Healthy relationships can provide a healing environment that promotes the integration of the brain and the regulation of emotions. It is important to allow the child to play and talk about their experiences, and to ensure that their reactions are normal in these circumstances. Therapy and counselling can also play a vital role in the healing process, providing a safe space for children and families to process their experiences, gain insight, and develop coping skills.
It is important to seek professional help if your child continues to display the above symptoms, does not settle, or if there are new emerging behaviours in relation to a traumatic experience. Our team of well-experienced psychologists at Mind Health Collective are here to help.