What is Trauma?
What does trauma mean?
Trauma is a scary or upsetting event where you feel you, your life or other's lives are in danger.
What could cause a child to be unexpectedly separated from their parent/caregiver?
Many factors can result in separation, including abuse in the home, death, substance use, health conditions, etc...
Why do some kids go through trauma and some don't?
There is no reason that some kids go through trauma and other's do not aside from whoever they are exposed to that commits the abuse. Nothing about the child makes them a victim. There is no "type of victim" anyone can go through trauma.
Do kids that have PTSD have it for life?
Nope! PTSD is totally treatable. Most kids make a full recovery and feel much better after therapy. It will always be part of their history and will always impact them but they can move on to live happy, healthy, full lives.
What is sexual abuse?
Sexual abuse is when an adult or older child touches or runs a child's private parts or asks the child to touch or rub their private parts. This kind of touching is not okay, and the person who does this is called a sex offender. Sexual abuse can include behaviors that do not involve touch, like talking or showing their private parts
What happens after someone experiences a trauma?
Sometimes people develop post-trauma reactions where doing daily things gets difficult. You might have flashbacks, nightmares, difficult emotions or feel numb.
Whose fault is it when a child is unexpectedly separated from a parent/caregiver?
It could be the parents' responsibility or something else causing the separation. It is never the child's fault no matter what.
Once a child has gone through trauma, everyone knows it when they meet them. True or False?
False! Trauma doesn't create a sign on their forehead that they have been through trauma. They choose who to tell their story to and who not to. You likely have people in your own class who have gone through trauma and you have no clue.
True or False?
Therapy is a place where kids talk about what happened, understand what happened to them, and find ways to cope better.
True!
True or False?
Sexual abuse is rare.
False
Sexual abuse is not rare. 1/4 of girls and 1/6 of boys will experience some form of sexual abuse (The number might be larger since not everyone tells)
What types of trauma are there? Name at least 2.
Physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, car accidents, natural disasters, war, community violence, dog bites, medical procedures, significant injuries, domestic violence, family overdose, etc
How do children feel when they are unexpectedly separated from their loved ones?
Fear, anxiety, stressed, overwhelmed, angry, confused, etc... There are no wrong feelings
True or False? Trauma is very rare. Most kids do not go through what I have been through.
False! Trauma is actually, sadly, very common. More than two thirds of children reported at least 1 traumatic event by age 16. 1 in 4 high school students was in at least 1 physical fight. 1 in 5 high school students was bullied at school; 1 in 6 experienced cyberbullying.
What does confidentiality mean?
Confidentiality means that what you and your therapist talk about stays between you and your therapist. This is your safe space to share whatever you need and trust that your therapist will not tell anyone else unless it is a safety concern.
Why don't children tell about sexual abuse?
There are many reasons why children do not disclose being sexually abused, including threats of harm to the child or their family, fear of being removed from the home, fear of not being believed, or shame or guilt.
Does everyone who goes through trauma get post trauma reactions? Why or why not?
No, some people end up coping after trauma and find all of their symptoms go away after a short period of time or that they have no symptoms at all. We do not know the exact reason for this but everyone has different resilience levels
What can someone do to feel better when they are feeling sad?
There are no wrong answers!
Why do some kids not tell anyone when they have gone through a trauma?
Kids may be scared to tell someone thinking they will be in trouble. The abuser may have threatened them if they tell. They may not know what they are going through is trauma to be able to tell an adult. They may feel ashamed or embarrassed.
Will talking about trauma help someone feel better?
Yes! Like putting alcohol on a cut, it won't feel good in the moment but it helps the body and mind heal from bad experiences.
How can you tell if a child is being or has been sexually abused
Children who have been sexually abused may display a range of emotional and behavioral reactions, many of which are characteristic of children who have experienced other types of trauma. These reactions include: An increase in nightmares and/or other sleeping difficulties , Withdrawn behavior , Angry outbursts , Anxiety , Depression , Not wanting to be left alone with a particular individual(s)
What is a trauma reminder?
Also known as triggers, are anything that brings to mind a past traumatic experience, causing a person to feel as though they are reliving the event
Name four self-care strategies
No Wrong Answers!
How did kids that have gone through trauma react? What might they feel?
Everyone reacts in different ways. Some may want to talk about it, some may want to avoid talking or thinking about it. Some may get sad and cry. Others might get angry, yell or even do unsafe things like drinking or running away. Some may feel numb all over or feel no emotions.
Sharing question! Before starting your therapy, what did you think about therapy? Has this opinion changed?
Thanks for sharing!
What should a child do if they tell an adult they trust that they are witnessing or experience abuse and that adult doesn't believe them or doesn't listen to them?
Keep telling adults they trust until someone listens!