Childhood Trauma
- TeenToTeen
- Sep 8, 2020
- 4 min read
TRIGGER WARNING
The word ‘trauma’ naturally comes with a negative connotation, and most people instantly think of it as a result of a near-death experience. At some point in our lives, we are all so negatively affected by someone or something that it torments us for the rest of our lives, with some being affected to a much more severe degree than others. Whether this be watching a horror movie one isn’t mature enough for or getting into a car accident, we’ve all been through it. That’s what connects us as humans.
‘Scary’ and ‘traumatic’ are used regularly and interchangeably in present conversations. However, they have very different literal meanings. What qualifies as a scary experience is one that causes you to be afraid; however, the fear eventually subsides and you are able to go about your daily routine. Each person is affected by fear in different ways. I may get scared from watching movies of people with button eyes, while others may find it hilarious. I may find dissecting animals interesting and informative, while others find it gory and unnecessary. On the other hand, a traumatic experience is one that causes you emotional, physical, and psychological distress that can stay with you forever if not treated properly. You’d find yourself jumping at every little sound. What’s even worse is going through a traumatic experience as a child, because being traumatized at such a young age may have a much more detrimental effect to one’s mental state as compared to being traumatized at a much more mature age, when we have developed worldly perspectives and gained insight and knowledge through previous experiences. Scary experiences can be joked about and taken lightly; traumatic experiences cannot.
A child can develop an early onset of trauma from various experiences, such as a car accident, a severe illness, or verbal and physical abuse, although the list far surpasses just these common traumas. What is commonly misunderstood is that the child doesn’t necessarily have to go through that experience; just witnessing it may be enough to cause the child trauma. Childhood trauma can be dangerous because experiencing such psychological distress at an early age can impact brain function, as the child’s brain is still developing and making neural connections. Also, a child may not always be able to understand the situation and verbally express their reactions, but the damage the situation caused will still stick to that child even through adulthood.
After experiencing a traumatic event, a child may develop a heightened stress response as they grow up, which can affect their ability to regulate emotions and can lead to numerous mental and physical illnesses. In addition, statistics have shown that substance abuse, self-harm, anxiety, and depression are frequent among traumatized children, as a traumatic event may lead an adolescent to resorting to dangerous habits. Not seeing from an early stage that a child is experiencing trauma may cause the child more harm both psychologically and physically, and late intervention may have little effect. That is why it is important to pay close attention to children who may be experiencing childhood trauma and get them the correct help right away.
Coping mechanisms for traumatized people may differ, as it depends on what exactly they experienced and how it made them feel. As children may not fully understand what happened but are still frightened by it, it is important to constantly support and be there for them. The effects of the trauma can go away for the child if one is considerate and careful in the way they treat/handle the child after the traumatic event. Here are some ways that you can help a child cope with a traumatic experience:
Keep the child company and constantly reassure them that they are safe and loved.
Have an open discussion with the child, allowing them to talk about how they are feeling and what they felt happened. Kindly explain to them what they are going through and tell them that you will always be there for them. Reassurance enforces a positive environment.
Give the child extra encouragement and attention. This will help to make them feel less alone and scared.
Do fun things with the child to keep them laughing and smiling. This will allow them to make good memories that can eventually overshadow the bad memories.
Do not be too overprotective over them. Guide them until they are ready to go back out into the world to resume normal activities. This will help their growth and allow them to move on from the traumatic experience.
Everyone has flaws and wrongdoings, yet as a child, they start out like a blank sheet of paper. Over time, that sheet of paper is molded and crumpled by the harshness of life. But childhood trauma can tear this sheet of paper apart. Therefore, we need to watch out for children experiencing childhood trauma and help them to the best of our ability to save them from being torn apart; the children of now make up the leaders of our future.
Name: Heather Nguyen
Editor: Katelyn Clark
Graphic Designer: Tiffany Tran
Photographer: Leighton Gammage
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