CHILD TRAUMA and POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
Tulongeni Kalimba- Sep 2, 2021
- 2 min read
It is no new news to hear of a story about women and children being abused by men . This act has been going on for as long as I remember. It is said to be the best option for a man to beat up his wife and it is seen as “correction.”
Parents do not realize the damage they do to their children as they witness this
awful acts. Maria Consiglio, is a great writer and she will remind you that the most harmful abuse sometimes does not look like abuse at. Manipulation, insidious insults, conditioning and brainwashing, gaslighting and mental abuse will hurt a person where it hurts the most, in their soul. Do not underestimate an abusers ability to destroy you without ever lifting a finger. Even to destroy it further when a finger is lifted.
What is child trauma?
“Child Trauma” refers to a scary, dangerous, violent or life threatening event that happened to a child (0-18 years of age). This type of event may also happen to someone your child knows and the child is impacted as a result of seeing or hearing about the other person being hurt or injured. When such experiences occur, a child becomes overwhelmed, upset and they mostly feel hopeless. This experiences can happen to anyone, however not all events have a traumatic impact.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Reactions that impact a child’s daily life after a traumatic event, the response is called Child Traumatic Stress. The reaction shows up in many ways (such as ; being more irritable, withdrawn and acting younger than their age is). The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) states, “child traumatic stress occurs when children and adolescents are exposed to traumatic events or traumatic situations that overwhelm their ability to cope.
It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. This fear triggers many split-second change in the body to respond to danger and help a person avoid danger in the future. This “fright or flight” response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people will recover from those symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) .
People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are no longer
in danger. The mind replays what the heart can not delete.
Causes of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
It can be caused by traffic accident, physical assault, traumatic childbirth, house fire, abuse, neglect or bullying, being told of a life threatening Illness, a death or miscarriage and any event in which you are seriously injured or fear for your life.
Symptoms of PTSD
- Re-experiencing – flashbacks, intrusive thoughts or images, nightmares, distress at reminders of the trauma
- Physical memories -such as; pain, sweating, nausea or trembling
- Constantly aware of threats, easily startled, irritable, easily upset or angry, difficulty sleeping (insomnia) and difficulty concentrating
- Avoidance – memory problems, keeping busy, avoiding reminders of the trauma, disassociation, isolation, and withdrawal, feeling emotionally numb and using alcohol or drugs.
How to heal from Trauma
- Accept what you feel
- Give yourself time to get through your feels and mourn any loss you have encountered
- Avoid forcing the healing process
- Be patient for the recovery period
- Prepare yourself for volatile emotions
- Learn to reconnect with uncomfortable emotions
