Trauma & The Brain
Name one way the brain changes when it experiences trauma?
What is memory, the alarm system, and frontal lobe shutting down
What is a trauma response?
What is
Re-experiencing (e.g., nightmares, flashbacks)
Avoidance of reminders
Negative thoughts/mood (e.g., guilt, detachment)
Hyperarousal (e.g., jumpy, angry outbursts)
Symptoms last more than 1 month after trauma
When someone yells, hits, or tries to control another person in their home, what kind of behavior is that?
What is abusive behavior (or domestic violence)?
What do guinea pigs eat to stay healthy?
What are veggies?
What happens if a player fouls someone inside their own penalty box?
What is the other team gets a penalty kick?
What part of the brain is like your body’s alarm system and reacts fast when you feel scared or unsafe?
What is the amygdala?
If someone is having trouble sleeping, what trauma response might they be feeling?
What is nightmares, what is alarm system sensitivity.
If a kid feels scared when adults are fighting, what is the best thing they can do in that moment?
What is go somewhere safe and tell a trusted adult?
Guinea pigs need this every day because their bodies can’t make it—what is it?
What is vitamin C?
What do we call the big international soccer tournament that happens every four years and teams from all over the world play in?
What is the World Cup?
What are the three things are body does when it gets scared?
What is fight, flight, or freeze?
When someone avoids places or things that remind them of something bad that happened, what are they doing?
What is avoiding triggers/reminders?
People who hurt others often want two things. Name the two things. (Hint: The idea is that these people what to be in charge.)
What are power and control?
What sound do guinea pigs make when they’re happy or excited for food?
What is wheeking?
If a player gets two yellow cards in the same game, what happens next?
What is they receive a red card and are ejected from the game?
What part of the brain helps you calm down, think, and make good choices?
What is the prefrontal cortex?
After trauma, some kids might get really quiet, angry, or have trouble paying attention. What part of their brain is having a hard time calming down?
What is the survival part (the amygdala or “alarm system”)?
Kids who experience violence at home sometimes blame themselves or feel responsible. What’s an important truth to remember about that?
What is it’s never the kid’s fault and everyone deserves to feel safe at home.
Guinea pigs are very social animals. What happens if they live all alone?
What is they get lonely or sad?
How long is a standard soccer match and the half-time break?
What is a standard soccer match consists of two 45-minute halves, with a 15-minute half-time break?
What part of the brain stores memories and helps you remember things, even scary ones?
What is the hippocampus?
Trauma can make it hard to feel safe or trust people. What kind of therapy helps the brain and body learn to feel safe again?
What is TF-CBT? Or Trauma therapy?
If someone is experiencing Domestic Violence where can they go in Indiana to be safe?
YWCA North Central Indiana (Elkhart) and Family Justice Center of St. Joseph County (South Bend)
What do guinea pigs do when they’re really happy—they jump and twist in the air! What’s that called?
What is popcorning?
What do you call it when a player scores three goals in one game?
What is a hat trick?