Trauma Symptoms
True or False: Everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD.
False. Everyone is different and there are different factors that affect the development of the presence of trauma symptoms.
What part of the brain (the thinking, feeling, or survival part of the brain) is more active in people who have experienced trauma?
The Feeling Brain; the amgydala is more sensitive to potential threats!
True or False: A child is most likely to be sexually abused by a stranger.
False! Children are most often sexually abused by someone they know and trust. Approximately three quarters of reported cases of child sexual abuse are committed by family members or other individuals who are considered part of the victim’s “circle of trust.”
What is physical abuse? Name 3 examples of physical abuse.
Physical abuse is any injury to a child caused by an adult on purpose.
Examples: Hitting, whipping, beating, biting, kicking, or anything that harms a child's/adolescent’s body
How many children have experienced a traumatic event?
What does it mean to dissociate?
Dissociation is a common reaction to trauma. It's feeling detached to reality, disconnected, or foggy and may look and feel like zoning out.
When our brain senses danger what are its 5 hardwired responses? Describe each response of the survival brain!
Flight (run away/escape/hide/be distracted) , Fight (aggressive behaviors/attack), Freeze (space out/shut down), Flop (disengage/show no emotion), & Friend (rely on others for help).
How common is child sexual abuse?
1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18.
What makes it hard for a child or teen to tell someone they are being physically abused?
Fear things will get worse, have thoughts that they will not be believed, they don't know who to tell, they think they did something to cause it, etc.
In the United States, about 1 in 8 children ages 17 or younger are living in households with at least one parent who has a substance use disorder.
What does hyperarousal mean?
Hyperarousal is one group of PTSD symptoms. It means my brain is on the lookout for danger and keeps me on edge. It looks like: difficulty sleeping, nightmares, anxiety, jumpy, startle easily, etc.
What emotion do many children who have experienced violence interpret when they see neutral faces?
Anger!
True or False: Child sexual abuse is always perpetrated by adults.
False! Twenty-three percent of reported cases of child sexual abuse are perpetrated by individuals under the age of 18. 3 While some degree of sexual curiosity and exploration is to be expected between children of about the same age, when one child coerces another to engage in adult-like sexual activities, the behavior is unhealthy and abusive.
Why do some adults physically hurt their children? Is it ever the child's fault?
There are lots of different reasons, just like there are lots of different offenders. But it is very hard to know the reason why it happens to any child. Some adults do not know how to manage their emotions in a healthy way or they didn't have a role model on how to correct behaviors of children.
We do know this much: No child is responsible for what an adult does. It is NEVER the child's fault.
What does TFCBT stand for and what does it do?
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This therapy teaches kids skills for coping with symptoms of traumatic stress so that eventually they can talk about the traumatic event without being distressed so that they are not overwhelmed when they are reminded of what happened.
What is avoidance in PTSD?
Avoidance is another category of symptoms of PTSD. It means avoiding thoughts, feelings, people, or places that remind you of the trauma. It can also mean avoiding hearing or talking about it.
True or False: When I've been through a very scary or stressful event (trauma), my brain keeps me on alert so I will be ready in case that bad thing happens again.
True.
This is why we worry more and feel more anxious or jumpy.
How do abusers most often get a child to keep sexual abuse a secret?
Abusers often do not use physical force, but may use play, tricks, threats, or manipulation to keep kids silent. These tactics are called “grooming" and may include buying gifts or arranging special activities, which can lead victims to be confused or blame themselves for the abuse.
How might a child feel after being physically abused?
Scared, confused, angry, sad, guilty, etc.
What kinds of worries do kids who've been physically abused have?
They often worry that they caused the abuse or that their parent/caregiver will get in trouble if someone finds out. They can also worry that something is wrong with them or they are a bad person. Other thoughts they might have is that no one can be trusted or everyone will hurt them.
True or False: The changes in the brain caused by exposure to trauma are not permanent.
Changes in the brain that happen after trauma can improve over time. This is particularly likely to happen when children experience safe, stable, and supportive environments after trauma. In fact, TFCBT therapy can actually lead to positive changes in the same regions of the brain that are influenced by trauma
Who is sexually abused?
Children of all ages, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds are vulnerable to sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse affects both girls and boys in all kinds of neighborhoods and communities, and in countries around the world.
How common is child abuse?
A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. At least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse and/or neglect in the past year, and this is likely an underestimate.
What percentage of kids have their symptoms of PTSD decreased after TFCBT treatment?
80%