Abuse
What is trauma?
What are some situations where a natural disaster could cause trauma?
Living through a scary natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, volcano, earthquake, wildfire, flood, or a bad storm can cause trauma.
True or False: Children who experience trauma will never recover?
False: Many children are resilient. With support from caregivers and counseling, children can recover.
What are some feelings that are normal for a kid to have after experiencing trauma?
After experiencing trauma a kid may feel mad, scared, ashamed, guilty, grumpy, sad, depressed, worried or confused.
What are the four common trauma responses? (Four F's)
Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn
What is physical abuse?
Physical abuse is when an adult intentionally uses force to cause injury or pain to a kid. This includes being slapped, burned, cut, bruised, or restrained.
What are some situations where being around violence could cause trauma?
Seeing a violent situation in real life or on tv or video games such as a kid getting bullied, getting in a fight, being around family members who often yell, fight, or go to jail, or being around weapons.
True or False: The best way to handle trauma is to forget about it and move on?
False: The best way to handle trauma is to talk about it with caregivers and counselors. Over time trauma will lose its power and kids will be better able to cope with strong feelings.
Does a kid have to deal with the effects of trauma by themselves?
No, getting help is OK! Kids might talk to family, friends, trusted adults, doctors, counselors, teachers, and therapists.
What does it mean when a kid who has experienced trauma uses a fight response? Give an example.
When a kid who has experienced trauma encounters something stressful they might have a big "fight" response.
Fight: solving a stressful situation aggressively
Example: At school you feel embarrassed in gym class when a friend makes a joke about you making a mistake so you start pushing and yelling at your friend.
What is emotional abuse?
Emotional abuse is when an adult continually makes a kid feel very bad by threatening, humiliating, intimidating, insulting, isolating, or putting them down.
What are some situations where medical problems could cause trauma?
For some kids going to the doctor or hospital can be very scary especially if they have to go again and again. This could include a taking medication or getting a shot, having a surgery, getting an injury, or having a medical condition (epilepsy, asthma, cerebral palsy, cancer, or diabetes).
What are some of the things kids can do to help themselves feel better after experienceing truama?
Talking to friends and trusted adults, exercising, playing sports, reading, drawing, painting writing, praying, playing games, watching funny movies, breathing deeply, getting space, hugging a favorite toy, or helping people.
What is a flashback?
A flashback is when memories of a past trauma feel as if they are taking place in the current moment.
What does it mean when a kid who has experienced trauma uses a flight response? Give an example.
When a kid who has experienced trauma encounters something stressful they might have a big "flight" response.
Flight: solving a stressful situation by running away
Example: A kid at school says something mean to you and the next day you pretend to be sick so you don't have to go to school and see the kid again.
What is sexual abuse?
Sexual abuse is when an adult touches a kid in a way that makes them feel scared or uncomfortable and includes any touching of private parts or making a kid touch private parts.
What are some situations where life changes could cause trauma?
When a kid moves to a new place, goes to a new school, has a loved one die, has parents separate, or moving to a new living situation it can be very scary and stressful.
Many kids have bad or negative thoughts after experiencing trauma. What is a possible negative thought a kid might have? Are these negative thoughts helpful?
No one loves me, I am bad, I can't trust anyone, I am dumb, I was my fault, I am ugly, no one cares about me.
Negative thoughts are not helpful and should be replaced with positive helpful thoughts.
What are some behaviors or new things a kid might do after having a traumatic experience?
Trauma can cause kids to have nightmares, become hyper and unfocused, misbehave, avoid others, become uninterested in their favorite things, have temper tantrums, have trouble eating or sleeping, have accidents in their pants or in bed, or refuse to be alone.
What does it mean when a kid who has experienced trauma uses a freeze response? Give an example.
When a kid who has experienced trauma encounters something stressful they might have a big "freeze" response.
Freeze: solving a stressful situation by doing or saying nothing
Example: A teacher asks you a question in class and you know the answer, but you are too stressed to respond in any way.
What is neglect?
Neglect is when a when an adult doesn't give a kid enough food, clothes, or a safe place to live. This can also include an adult leaving and not taking care of a kid or an adult not making sure a kid goes to school or the doctor when they should.
What percentage of children in the Unites States have been exposed to trauma or abuse?
60%
What does TF-CBT stand for?
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
What are the physical symptoms that a kid might have or feel in their body after going through a traumatic event?
A kid might have a headache, stomachache, shaky hands, fast beating hearts, tiredness, difficulty breathing, trouble going to the bathroom, dry mouth, or jumpiness.
What does it mean when a kid who has experienced trauma uses a fawn response? Give an example.
When a kid who has experienced trauma encounters something stressful they might have a big "fawn" response.
Fawn: solving a stressful situation by pleasing someone else in order to have no conflict
Example: A kid's mother is yelling at a kid about something they didn't do but the kid keeps apologizing anyway so that their mother will calm down and stop the argument.