General
Trauma
Trauma
What is trauma and what are some types of trauma children might experience?
A scary thing that happened where you were worried someone might die or get seriously hurt or that you might die or get seriously hurt, Physical abuse, sexual abuse, witnessing domestic violence, emotional abuse, car accidents where they worried they might die or someone else might die or where someone did die, witnessing community violence, witnessing a murder
What is family violence?
Family violence is a pattern of behaviors that are used to maintain power and control over other family members. Family violence includes physical, emotional and verbal abuse, threats and intimidation, and controlling money.
True or False: You have survived the trauma. The memory can’t hurt you.
True
What percentage of children and teens who experience a traumatic event develop PTSD?
14.5% of those who had experienced a serious trauma developed PTSD.
What is bullying?
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that happens in situations where it feels like one person has more power over another person.
Why do we talk about trauma?
To release the trauma bully from our brains and learn how to cope with the memories and symptoms. It is normal to not want to talk or think about trauma - that's call avoidance! We don't want to think about those memories or be around things that remind us of the trauma because it is really painful. But not talking about it can make those memories, thoughts, and painful emotions pop up more frequently - talking about it can help.
What are examples of family violence?
What percentage of kids have their symptoms of PTSD decreased after TFCBT treatment?
80%
What are some things that a kid could do if they wanted help if they were experiencing a trauma?
First, tell an adult what you are experiencing. Second, ask yourself if there is any way you can increase your safety now? Can you decrease the amount of trauma you experience by changing where, or with whom, you spend your time? Third, remember that you are not alone. Many youth your age are experiencing the same thing. Fourth, remind yourself that you are strong and that recovery is possible. There are many examples of successful adults who experienced a lot of trauma in their childhood.
What are the different types of bullying? What are some examples of different types of bullying?
Verbal bullying: teasing, name calling, threatening to cause harm, inappropriate comments
Social bullying: excluding kids on purpose, telling others not to be friends with someone, spreading rumors, embarrassing someone in public
Physical bullying: hitting/kicking/punching, spitting, tripping/pushing, taking or breaking things
Cyber bullying: using social media, phones, computers, texts, or computers to be mean or make threats
Approximately what percentage of children experience at least one traumatic event by age 16?
2/3s of children or 65%
What are some reasons that some kids don’t tell right away if they are experiencing family violence?
Fear that they will not be believed. They don't know who to tell or they think they did something to cause it, etc. Fear that their parents will be mad at them or that they will treat them worse for telling. Worry about getting their parents into trouble or being removed from their homes. Believing that it’s okay for their parents to threaten them or that they deserve the abuse for their “bad” behavior. Feeling shame or guilt.
True or False: Witnessing violence affects a child’s ability to learn because they may have difficulty focusing and concentrating.
True
What kinds of worries do kids who’ve seen or experienced family violence have ? What do they think about?
They often worry that they caused the abuse or did something to anger the other person. They can also worry that something is wrong with them or they are a bad person because of what happened. Other thoughts they might have is that no one can be trusted or everyone will hurt them. They might also worry that their caregiver will get in trouble if someone finds out or worry that it will happen again.
How many kids experience bullying?
1 in 5 students are bullied in the U.S. - that's 8.2 million kids every year!
Why do we include caregivers in the TFCBT process?
Their job is to be your coach between sessions with me and after we are done with TFCBT to remind you of what you’ve learned to help you cope
It can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender from any socioeconomic background and education level. 1 in 15 children experience family violence and that is likely a low estimate because it can be really hard for families to report that it is happening in their home!
True or False: Everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD.
False. Everyone is different and there are different factors that affect the development of the presence of trauma symptoms.
What are three physical sensations kids who have experienced family violence and/or bullying often experience?
Racing heart, stomachaches, headaches, tense muscles, difficulty breathing, sweating, dizziness, lightheadedness, tingly, hot, feeling jumpy, trouble sleeping, nightmares, etc.
How common is it for kids who are bullied to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
For all bullied students, 27.6% of boys and 40.5% of girls had PTSD scores within the clinical range
What happens to kids who have experienced family violence when they grow up?
No one forgets that they went through a trauma. It will always be a bad experience and you might never forget about it. We definitely know that people can heal from trauma. It helps to know that reactions are normal and usually will get better with time. The chances are very good that you will get better. You might have some permanent changes because you went through a trauma. However, not all changes are bad. Sometimes you learn how much you can handle and that you are a stronger person because of it; maybe you will be more prepared than other kids for handling situations that could be dangerous or scary. You may be able to help other kids if they go through a trauma. Try to think about what you have learned and how you are better prepared to handle difficult experiences.
Why do some adults threaten or hurt their children and/or families? Is it ever the child's fault?
There are lots of different reasons, just like there are lots of different offenders. But it is very hard to know the reason why it happens to any child. Some adults do not know how to manage their emotions in a healthy way or they didn't have a role model on how to correct behaviors of children. When physical punishment does not create the results a parent seeks, the parent may escalate the punishment, and the child and parent may get locked in a vicious cycle of greater violence on the part of parents, and greater acting out on the part of the children.
We do know this much: No child is responsible for what an adult does. It is NEVER the child's fault.
True or False: I should only practice coping skills when I feel like I need to use them
False! Practicing coping skills when we feel calm is a great way to feel more prepared when we feel worried, sad, angry, or upset
How do kids feel when they’ve seen or experienced family violence? What are some common emotions?
Scared, confused, angry, sad, guilty, ashamed, betrayed, etc.
True or False: Children who experience trauma are more likely to become victims of bullying later in life.
True! Having been traumatized leads to an increased likelihood that a person will be bullied