Research shows that when children encounter a traumatic experience or even multiple traumatic events over a period of time, their bodies, brains and nervous systems adapt in an effort to protect them.
My other article “How Trauma Affects Children” discusses more on the impact of trauma long-term in children. These changes may result in common trauma behaviours such as aggression, distrusting or disobeying adults, and dissociation.
When children encounter danger, these behaviours are important for survival. However, once the child is no longer in a dangerous situation and are in a safer environment, their brains and bodies may not be mindful that the danger is no longer present.
Like anything, the more you practice something the better and stronger it becomes. These protective behaviours grow stronger the more frequently they are used. A good analogy that can be used is a competitive runner – the more the athlete trains and uses their muscles, the faster and stronger they become.
It takes time to retrain a traumatised child, for them to learn that the protective behaviours are not needed in their new situation, and they can be calm.
It may be helpful for parents to be mindful that their child’s negative behaviours may be a learned response to stress, and it could very well be the reason they got through the very unsafe situation. Parents should also be mindful that it takes time and patience to learn how to respond in more positive behavioural ways in their current safe environment.
Trauma Symptoms
Trauma behaviour can manifest in many different forms. This is because, what may be one child’s trauma can be completely different to another. Signs and symptoms of childhood trauma should always be considered in the context of the child’s history, family system, care giving system, supports and more.
Some symptoms that have been found to be associated with childhood trauma in infants (birth to 3 years) are:
- Eating disturbance
- Frequent tantrums
- Sleep disturbances
- Somatic complaints
- Clingy, separation anxiety, reluctant to explore
- Feeling helpless/ passive
- Irritable/ difficult to soothe
- Constricted play, exploration, mood
- Repetitive post-traumatic play
- Developmental regression
- General fearfulness/ new fears
- Easily startled or difficult to calm
- Delays in milestones such as language or physical
- Aggressive behaviour
- Sexualised behaviour
- Talking about the traumatic event and reacting to reminders/ trauma triggers
- Activity levels much higher or lower than peers
Some symptoms that have been found to be associated with childhood trauma in young children (3-6 years) are:
- Avoidant, anxious, clingy, reluctant to explore
- General fearfulness/ new fears
- Restless, impulsive, hyperactive
- Physical symptoms (headache etc)
- Difficulty identifying what is bothering them
- Inattention, difficulty problem solving
- Day dreaming or dissociation
- Irritability and difficult to sooth
- Aggressive behaviour
- Sexualised behaviour
- Loss of recent developmental achievement
- Repetitive/ post traumatic play
- Talking about the traumatic event and reacting to reminders/ trauma triggers
- Sadness/depression
- Poor peer relationships and social problem (controlling/ over permissive)
Some symptoms that have been found to associate with childhood trauma in school aged children (6-12 years) are:
- Difficulty paying attention
- Withdrawn and quiet behaviour
- Trouble emotionally regulating
- Frequent crying or feelings of sadness
- Discussing scary feelings and ideas
- Challenges transitioning from one activity to the next
- Fighting with peers or adults
- Changes in school performance
- Wanting to be left alone
- Eating more or less than peers
- Frequently getting into trouble at school and home
- Frequent physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach-aches
- Thumb sucking, bed wetting and fear of the dark
It can be helpful for parents to become mindful of behaviour patterns which brings awareness of why certain behaviours are occurring. For more ideas on how you can support your child, you may like to read my other article on parenting a traumatised child.
Author: Larissa Watter, BA Counselling.
Larissa Watter is a Brisbane counsellor, passionate about working with children. She is currently furthering her studies by undertaking a Certificate in Child Centred Play Therapy.
To make an appointment with Larissa Watter try Online Booking. Alternatively, you can call M1 Psychology Loganholme on (07) 3067 9129 or Vision Psychology Wishart on (07) 3088 5422.
References:
- https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubpdfs/child-trauma.pdf
- https://www.ecmhc.org/tutorials/trauma/mod3_1.html
- https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/helping-children-cope-with-traumatic-stress.htm#