Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Features of psychological trauma
• Method 2 of 4: Physical Symptoms
• Method 3 of 4: Psychological Symptoms
• Method 4 of 4: Next Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

Unfortunately, children are not immune from traumatic events and diseases like PTSD. If not discussed and addressed, such events can cause significant harm to the child, but the good news is that children can cope with traumatic events more easily with the proper support of trusted adults. The sooner a child can be recognized for signs of trauma, the sooner they will receive the support they need and be able to return to normal life.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Features of psychological trauma

1. 1 Views traumatic experiences. Traumatic experiences scare or shock the child, may be perceived as life-threatening (real or perceived), and feel very vulnerable. Examples of potentially traumatic events:
   • natural disasters;
   • road traffic and other types of accidents;
   • lack of attention and disdain;
   • verbal, physical, emotional, sexual abuse (including coercion to treatment, restrictions on freedom, isolation);
   • sexual assault or rape;
   • violent acts of a mass nature such as mass shooting and terrorist attacks;
   • war;
   • severe bullying and harassment;
   • presence during traumatic experiences of other people (violence against others).
2. 2 Differences in response to traumatic events. Two children who have experienced the same traumatic event may have different symptoms or experience different degrees of trauma. The same event can be traumatic for one child and just upset another.
3. 3 The influence of signs of trauma in parents and other people close to the child. Having PTSD in one or both parents can also trigger a child's reaction to trauma. What's more, the child may be more responsive to trauma. due to a similar reaction of adults, especially parents, whom he imitates in everything.

Method 2 of 4: Physical Symptoms

1. 1 Changes in behavior. Compare the child's behavior before and after the injury. In the presence of extreme manifestations of character or noticeable changes in habitual behavior, it can be concluded that something is wrong with the child.
   • Perhaps the child has become a completely different personality (for example, a confident girl suddenly turned into a fearful and submissive child) or is subject to sudden changes in mood or behavior (the boy sometimes withdraws into himself and is silent, and sometimes behaves aggressively towards others).
2. 2 The child is easily upset. If a child is mentally traumatized, he may cry or be upset over little things that have not touched him before.
   • The child may become very upset when reminded of something related to the trauma (the child may cry or become alarmed at the sight of an object or person that reminds him of what happened).
3. 3 Signs of regression. The child may return to the habits of an earlier age and may wet the bed or suck on the thumb. This often happens in the case of sexual coercion, but is not limited to such trauma.
   • Children with developmental disabilities are more likely to regress, so it can be more difficult to determine the cause of this behavior.
4. 4 Signs of passivity and compliance. Traumatized children affected by adults may try to please adults so as not to anger them. Notice the tendency not to attract attention, complete obedience, and over-desire to be the "perfect" child.
5. 5 Signs of anger and aggression. A child who is traumatized may deliberately stage scenes, behave irritably, and exhibit sudden mood swings. Aggression towards others is also possible.
   • The child may be rebellious and often get into trouble. This behavior is clearly evident in school.
6. 6 Disease symptoms like headache, vomiting and fever. A child's response to trauma and stress often manifests itself as physical symptoms that have no obvious cause. Symptoms may worsen during times of stress and when the child needs to perform trauma-related activities (going to class after school abuse).

Method 3 of 4: Psychological Symptoms

1. 1 Behavioral changes. If the child begins to behave differently, then something is clearly happening to him. Watch for signs of anxiety.
   • After psychological trauma, children often begin to behave differently in everyday life. They may refuse to go to bed, go to school, or spend time with friends. It is also possible for a decline in academic performance and a return to habits of an earlier age. Notice all situations after the traumatic event that present a problem.
2. 2 Attachment to people and objects. A child may feel lost without a loved one or a favorite thing like a doll, blanket, soft toy. If a child has experienced psychological trauma, he can become very upset when a person or object is not around, since this way he does not feel completely safe.
   • Traumatized children may exhibit fear of separation from their parents or guardians (separation anxiety).
   • Some children withdraw and withdraw from family or friends. They prefer to be alone.
3. 3 Fear of the dark. If a child has received psychological trauma, he may have difficulty falling asleep and sleep poorly at night, refuse to go to bed. Sometimes they are afraid to sleep alone or without the lights on. The child may have nightmares and bad dreams more often, and there may be nocturnal sudden awakenings.
4. 4 Questions about the likelihood of the event recurring. The child may ask if the event will happen again and also ask them to take action to prevent the situation (such as insisting on driving carefully after an accident). Reassurance from adults is rarely able to allay a child's fears.
   • Sometimes children can get hung up on trying to prevent the event from recurring in the future (for example, keeping an eye on fire alarms after a fire in a house, for example). Such actions can develop into obsessive-compulsive disorder.
   • Children can replay the event repeatedly in games or creativity (for example, drawing the incident over and over again, or constantly pushing toy cars together).
5. 5 Low level of trust in adults. Adults have failed to protect the child in the past, so he may ask the reasonable question, "Who can?" and come to the conclusion that no one can ensure his safety. Also, he may not believe the guarantees of adults.
   • If a child is traumatized, the inability to trust people can become a defense mechanism, as people and places are no longer a source of safety or protection for them.
   • If a child is the victim of adult abuse, he may develop fear of other adults. For example, if a girl is offended by a tall man with blond hair, she may be afraid of her tall, blond uncle, who looks like the bully.
6. 6 Fear of certain places. If a child has experienced a traumatic event in a specific location, they may avoid or openly fear that location. Some children can tolerate fear in the presence of a loved one or a special object, but they cannot cope without them.
   • For example, if a child is offended or frightened by a doctor, he may scream and cry at the sight of a hospital building, or panic at the mere word “hospital”.
7. 7 Feelings of guilt or shame. A child may blame himself for a traumatic event because of a specific act, word, or thought. Such fears are not always rational. The child can blame himself in such a situation when he did nothing wrong and could not influence events in any way.
   • Such thoughts can lead to obsessive-compulsive behavior. For example, a boy and his sister were playing in the mud when a traumatic event occurred, but now he has an urgent need to maintain perfect cleanliness and bypasses the mud.
8. 8 Interaction with other children. A child who has experienced a trauma may shy away from people and may not know how to behave with other children or show no interest. Some children try to discuss or replay a traumatic event that annoys or upsets the rest of the children.
   • Sometimes it is difficult for a child to build and maintain friendships. So, he can behave extremely passively in relation to his peers, try to control or offend them. Some children withdraw into themselves and cannot find a common language with their peers.
   • Sexual abuse victims may try to reproduce the abuse in their play, which is why it is so important to keep track of how the child plays with peers after the injury.
9. 9 The child is easily disturbed. Trauma can lead to hypervigilance when the child is constantly on the alert. He may be intimidated by wind, rain, and sudden loud noises, or fear (or aggression) when other people get too close to him.
10. 10 The child voices his fears. Children who have experienced a traumatic event can often experience new fears and talk about them constantly. It may seem that the child cannot be reassured and assured of complete safety.
    • For example, if a child has survived a natural disaster or has become a refugee, he may constantly talk about the dangers that threaten his family, or complain that they now have nowhere to live.
    • A traumatized child may become obsessed with family safety and efforts to protect loved ones.
11. 11 Thoughts about self-harm or suicide. When thinking about suicide, children often talk about death, give up their belongings, do not participate in public life and ask people what they will do after they die.
    • After psychological trauma, some children become obsessed with the topic of death and may constantly talk or read about it, even if they do not have thoughts of suicide.
    • If someone has died in the family, then talking about death is not always a sign of suicidal thoughts. Sometimes the child is simply trying to realize death and the finiteness of life. If such conversations occur too often, then you should understand the problem.
12. 12 Signs of anxiety depression or fearlessness. If you think the situation is a problem, it is best to show your child to a specialist.
    • Observe your child's habits in areas such as eating, sleeping, mood, and concentration. In case of sudden changes or the appearance of strange habits, it is recommended to understand the situation.
    • Psychological trauma can be disguised as other illnesses. For example, some children become hyperactive, impulsive, and unable to concentrate after an injury, although such symptoms are often mistaken for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In some cases, children behave insolently and aggressively, which can be mistaken for behavioral problems. In such a situation, it is better to consult a specialist.

Method 4 of 4: Next Steps

1. 1 It should be understood that the absence of all or some of the above symptoms does not mean that the child has successfully dealt with the trauma. A child who has experienced traumatic events may hold back their emotions because of the perceived need to be strong or courageous for the sake of family or for fear of upsetting others.
2. 2 Assume that the child needs special attention and care if he or she has experienced a traumatic event. The child should have opportunities to discuss his feelings about the situation, as well as to have fun in a distracted environment.
   • Tell your child that he can always share his fears with you, ask questions, or discuss topics of concern. In such cases, give your child undivided attention and acknowledge his feelings.
   • If a traumatic event gets into the news (natural disaster or terrorist attack), then limit the child's access to news sources and monitor the use of the Internet. Repeated exposure of the event through the news can exacerbate the situation.
   • Emotional support reduces the risk of developing trauma or reduces its intensity.
3. 3 Be alert even if signs of injury did not appear immediately after the event. Some babies may hide their condition for weeks or even months. Don't rush your child to find out and express their feelings. Some children need time to comprehend what happened.
4. 4 Seek help at the first sign of trauma. The reactions and actions of those who are directly responsible for the child affect the child's ability to cope with traumatic experiences.
5. 5 Sign up the child to a psychologist if he cannot cope with the problem. The love and care of loved ones is very important, but sometimes it is not enough for a child to recover from a frightening event. Don't be afraid to see a specialist.
6. 6 Choose the appropriate therapy option. Usually, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, or BPDH (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) can help children with trauma.
   • If a traumatic event affects multiple family members or your entire family needs help, try family therapy.
7. 7 Do not try to fix the problem yourself. It will be natural for you to be supportive of your child, but trying on your own will not be successful, especially if you have been traumatized.Your child will quickly recognize your fear or depression and will repeat after you, so taking care of yourself is a must.
   • Discuss the situation with loved ones, such as your spouse and friends. Share your feelings so that you can find solutions and not feel lonely.
   • Find a support group if you or your loved ones are going through a difficult period in your life.
   • If you are overwhelmed, ask yourself what you need right now. A warm shower, a cup of coffee, a hug, a good book? Remember to take care of yourself.
8. 8 Encourage your child to interact with others. Family members, friends, psychotherapists, teachers, and others can be a source of support for your child and family and help you cope with the aftermath of trauma. Remember that you and your child are not alone in this world.
9. 9 Take care of your child's health. Try to restore your usual way of life as soon as possible, adhere to a healthy diet, help your child return to children's games and physical education, so that he can communicate with peers and lead an active lifestyle.
   • Encourage your child to move actively (walking, walking in the park, swimming, jumping on a trampoline) at least once a day.
   • Ideally, a child's portion should be 1/3 of the child's favorite fruits and vegetables.
10. 10 Always be there. What does the child need right now? How can you support him today? It is important not only to deal with the past, but also to enjoy the present.

Tips

• If you are trying to help your child cope with the consequences of trauma, you should read as much of the relevant literature as possible. Read books and articles from trusted sources like government and medical websites that describe your child's experiences and ways to improve their lives.
• If a child does not recover from psychological trauma, his development may take a different path. Areas of the brain that are responsible for emotion, memory, and language processing are hit hard by trauma. Long-term effects can affect a child's academic success, play, and friendships.
• Encourage your child to draw and write. Such therapy sessions will help him to vent his vulnerability, bad thoughts, and memories of the event. Experts may advise such methods as a reaction to a problem, but don't be afraid to encourage your child to use these methods of self-expression at any time. It is also helpful to read and tell stories about children who have experienced traumatic events and coped with difficulties.

Warnings

• If the child is still experiencing traumatic experiences such as abuse, take the child immediately to a safe place away from the source of the abuse.
• If these symptoms are ignored, then the child may develop psychological problems.
• Don't be angry about bad behavior that can be a symptom of trauma. The child is unable to control himself. Find the root cause and try to fix the problem. Be especially careful and tactful with behaviors that include sleep and crying (don't get angry when your baby is unable to fall asleep or stop crying).