Facts
What is trauma?
Trauma is a scary, dangerous, or violent event that can happen to anyone. An event can be traumatic when we face or witness an immediate threat to ourselves or a loved one, often followed by serious harm or injury.
What are some types of abuse?
Physical abuse, Emotional/Psychological abuse, Verbal abuse
What is the brain's most important job?
To keep us alive and safe
What is a symptom?
A clue or message your body tells you when it's not feeling quite right.
Name 3 ways to calm yourself down when you're upset or angry.
Examples - go on a bike ride, listen to music, take a break, draw/write, deep breaths, etc.
How common is childhood trauma?
Very common! 61% of the U.S. experiences at least one traumatic event by age 16. 530,000 children/teens are known to authorities to be abused. About 1 in 7 American children experience abuse or neglect.
What is neglect? Give an example.
Neglect is when a parent/caregiver does not provide for the child/adolescent’s basic needs and the child is harmed or placed at significant risk in terms of safety, health, or well-being.
What are our five senses?
Sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing
What is an "intrusion in daily life" symptom that happens after bad scary things have happened? Or give an example.
Intrusions in daily life are when things about the bad and scary thing that happened keep popping into your head, kind of like a jack in the box. Examples could be nightmares, memories, feeling really upset by reminders, frequent stomachaches or headaches, etc.
Name 3 things you like about yourself and your family.
Examples - creative, athletic, kind, trustworthy, enjoys similar things, the way we communicate, etc.
What kind of children or teens does trauma happen to?
Trick question! It can happen to any child or teen. There is no predictive characteristic.
What is the difference between bullying and cyberbullying?
Bullying is repeated aggressive acts that happen in person. Cyberbullying is online with the intention of harassing or intimidating. Cyberbullies are often anonymous or secret and their bullying reaches a lot of people.
What are some things the brain controls that we don't have to think about?
Breathing, heart rate, circulating blood. This is part of the brainstem. The oldest part of our brain. We sometimes call it the "lizard" part of the brain.
What does "avoidance" mean?
Avoidance is when your brain tries to stay away from things that are similar to the bad scary things or when we try not to think about the bad scary things because it makes us feel bad and scared.
Describe something the person taking care of you does that makes you feel good.
Examples - gives me hugs, compliments or praise, says they’re proud of me, plays with me or does things I like to do, asks me about my day, checks in on me, etc.
What are some things a kid or teen could do if they have experienced a traumatic event?
Get to a safe place. Tell a trusted adult.
What is the difference between natural disasters and man-made disasters?
A natural disaster is from nature, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, floods, earthquakes, etc. A man-made disaster is a person or persons who harm many other people, such as war, shootings, or bombs.
What are three ways the brain may respond when something very scary happens?
Fight, flight, or freeze. This is part of the limbic system in our brain. The limbic system's job is protection. We sometimes call this the "barking dog" part of the brain.
What are some ways trauma can change our thoughts and mood?
Thinking negatively about ourselves or about others, thinking negatively about the world, feeling like the trauma is our fault, feeling like you can't trust people or the world is dangerous.
What are some healthy ways of resolving problems or conflicts?
Examples - stay calm, use “I” statements, listen to the other person, focus on the issue and not the person, set and respect boundaries, seek neutral help, etc.
What is a perpetrator?
A person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral acts.
Which of the following is a type of trauma?
a. Serious accident, injury, or illness.
b. Sudden loss of a loved one (either by death or separation).
c. Community violence.
d. All of the above
D. All of the above
What part of the brain does all the thinking?
Cerebral cortex. This part of the brain helps us problem solve and manage our emotions. We sometimes call this the "wise owl" part of the brain.
What does "arousal level and reactivity" mean?
It means the body has been scared so much that it stays on alert to protect itself in the future. For example, the brain may be looking for danger, feeling extra startled, always feeling nervous, not able to concentrate, or not sleeping well.
How do you know when you need to take a break? What should you do when you need a break?
It can be different for different people. Maybe feeling angry, sad, irritated, frustrated, or overwhelmed. Maybe your heart is racing, your body feels really warm, or you start breathing rapidly. Maybe when you think about doing something that may get you hurt, someone else hurt, or get you in trouble. You should tell a caregiver and go to a quiet, safe room.