Feelings
True or false: Being angry after a trauma is not acceptable?
False! Everyone has feelings!!! Some people express their feelings in anger after a trauma.
Traumatic experiences can be planned for?
Traumatic experiences are often unexpected. They can happen to anyone at anytime.
True or false: Trauma can impact our thinking?
True! There are many reactions to trauma.
What are physical responses to trauma?
Heart pounding, Nausea, difficulty concentrating, having nightmares, thinking its your fault it happened.
You can lean on your friends and family for support after a trauma?
Yes, identify friends or family members for support. If you feel ready to discuss the traumatic event, you might talk to them about your experience and your feelings.
Two types of emotions.
What are sad, happy, anger, etc.
True or false: People all deal with trauma the same way.
What is false because everyone has different experiences.
True or false: Thoughts impact our behaviors.
True!
What happens to our mental health when experience trauma?
The mental mechanisms that help us make everyday decisions temporarily shut down. When the mental mechanisms shut down it allows us to make more primitive responses and take quick action rather than think carefully about the situation at hand.
Facing your feelings is a good way to process trauma?
It's normal to try and avoid feelings after trauma, but too much avoidance can prolong your stress and keep you from healing.
What are common thoughts after a trauma experience?
It's all my fault. I could have stopped it. It should have happened to me.
After trauma has sunk in, you might even feel guilty or ashamed. You may feel bad about surviving if others didn’t, or you might think you didn’t react the way you think you should. That’s normal, but just because you think it doesn't make it a true statement.
Should parents force their children to talk about events?
Parents can encourage the young person to communicate without judging or advising them until they ask for your feedback.
True or false: People might have negative thoughts after trauma.
True: Negative thinking might happen more often
True or False:
Trauma does not affect the body?
False! People might have physical symptoms to trauma.
What is self-care?
Self-care is doing things that make you happy and are healthy.
What does worry feel like?
What is always being fearful of something happening that might not happen?
How can parents help with trauma?
Continue to give love, support, and trust, even if things are extremely difficult.
True or false: People might have trouble concentrating after a traumatic event.
True! Trauma can cause people to be distracted.
True or False: Some people with trauma try to avoid situations?
True: Avoidance often occurs as a result of someone trying to limit contact with triggers for anxiety, fear, or memories and thoughts about a traumatic event. This is understandable as these emotions and thoughts can be incredibly distressing.
You should try to get over the trauma as quickly as possible?
False! Remember to be patient with yourself. It's normal to have a strong reaction to trauma. Take things one day at a time as you get better. As the days pass, your symptoms should start to gradually improve.
Why might someone feel shame or guilt after experiencing a trauma?
What is because they might wrongly feel they caused it or they could have stopped it.
True or False: Is your kiddo the same after a trauma?
True! Remember your teenager is the same person they were before the event, even if they seem different.
True or false: People can get help to lessen their traumatic symptoms.
True!
True or false: Does "doing things" that might interest a person help with trauma?
True! Getting involved might help by building friendships.
Looking for help or going to a counselor/therapist is a sign of weakness?
No, that is false!
Yes, not everyone needs a therapist when trauma happens and there are people who recover on their own. However, mental health professionals such as psychologists/counselors/therapists can help you find healthy ways to cope after a traumatic event.