Human beings are shaped by teachings, experiences, and events throughout their lives. Some of these are not so good and can cause deep marks, as is the case with childhood trauma.

What is Trauma

Before we talk about childhood trauma, let’s understand what it is. Trauma is related to injury, which means a wound or injury caused by violent and external action to the body, which may or may not leave aftereffects.

In psychology, trauma is defined by how a person reacts to events1. Therefore, what is a trauma to one person may not be a trauma to another.

Some people can cope with trauma and overcome it quickly. Others, however, may not be able to deal with it and may suffer for a long time.

What Are Childhood Traumas?

Childhood traumas generally refer to traumatic experiences that happen to children between the ages of 0 and 12 and shortly thereafter in adolescence2.

Since the reactions of babies and young children can be different from those of older children, and because they may not be able to verbalize their reactions to threatening or dangerous events, some people say that young age protects children from the impact of traumatic experiences.

When young children experience or witness a traumatic event, sometimes adults say: “They are too young to understand, so it’s better not to say anything about it.” However, children are affected by traumatic events, even though they may not understand what happened.

A growing body of research has established that young children, even infants, can be affected by events that threaten their safety or the safety of their parents, and their symptoms have been well documented.

Most Common Childhood Traumas

Because childhood traumas are defined by the child who experiences them, no list can include all the causes. However, the following list will explain some of the most common traumas children face:

Surgery or serious illness – A child experiences trauma when they are in the hospital because of a serious illness or surgery.

Accidents – A child who has suffered a car accident, a serious fall, injury while playing sports, burns, or another serious accident that threatens their sense of safety can be said to have experienced a type of childhood trauma.

Constant and intense bullying – The child is bullied by one or more people over a period of time. Bullies can be classmates, teammates, neighbors, or others in the child’s life. Bullying can start as early as preschool.

Separation from loved ones – A child can be separated from loved ones due to military service, divorce, a prison sentence, or even removal from home due to an investigation of abuse or neglect.

Natural disasters – A child is affected by a serious event, such as a hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, floods, etc.

Psychological abuse – Includes a range of non-accidental actions that create fear in a child or that intend to harm their dignity and psychological integrity. Examples include threatening to abandon a child, threats to harm the child or people or things the child cares about, scolding, demeaning or terrorizing a child. Psychological abuse can also include actions like confining a child (locking them in a closet or tying them to a chair), physical humiliations (being naked in front of others), or coercing a child to inflict pain on themselves.

Physical abuse – It is a deliberate aggression towards a child that leads to injury or risk of injury. Examples include hitting or slapping a child or rough treatment of a child that can cause them injury or harm. Consequences of physical abuse include bruises, scratches, burns, broken bones, lacerations, and loss of consciousness. The difference between discipline and physical abuse differs from country to country. However, the Human Rights Secretariat has declared that corporal punishment of children is a degrading treatment and is prohibited.

Sexual abuse – Occurs when a child is involved in sexual behavior by an adult or a person who is older than they are, with power and authority over them or who is in charge of caring for them. The purpose of the child’s involvement is for the benefit of the adult, whether for pleasure or financial profit. As this type of trauma often involves exploiting the child’s trust, it is sometimes referred to as “betrayal trauma.” Sexual abuse can also occur between children. This sexual activity can include obscene phone calls, drawings, exposure, pornography, prostitution, or rape.

Neglect – It is a form of child abuse and is a way of threatening the child through omission of care that threatens the child’s survival. Examples include failure of a parent or carer to provide necessary food, clothing, and shelter, leaving a child alone for long periods of time, and not providing medical care when needed.

Loss / abandonment – The child loses one or both biological parents through divorce, abandonment, death, or another reason.

Isolation within the family – No one in the family seems to love the child or consider the child important or special. The family does not care for each other, is not close, or does not offer support.

Domestic Violence – Domestic violence is behavior used by one person in a relationship to gain power or control over the other. Abuse includes physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats. It includes all behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, or injure someone.

Community violence – A child experiences trauma when witnessing violence in the environment where they live, whether it’s a robbery, a neighbor’s assault, etc. Sometimes, a child only needs to hear about violence to experience trauma.

Substance abuse – Someone in the child’s family abuses alcohol, street drugs, or prescription medications.

Mental illness – Someone in the child’s home is depressed, has another mental illness, or has attempted suicide.

Terrorism – A child experiences or hears about terrorism, especially when it happens in a place the child believes should be safe. The child may experience even more traumatic stress if there are children among those who are injured or killed.

Refugee child – A child has been torn from home, often after experiencing violence or intense fear of harm.

Signs of Childhood Trauma

Children who suffer some type of trauma tend to show signs of fear and vulnerability. Some common behaviors may indicate childhood trauma in older children, including:

Behavioral signs of trauma

  • Changes in appetite
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Difficulty paying attention or concentrating
  • Headaches
  • Increased aggression
  • Problems interacting with other children
  • Problems at school
  • Regressive behaviors (acting as they did when they were younger)
  • Stomachache

Emotional signs of trauma

  • Anger or irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Extreme emotional distress
  • Inconsolable crying
  • Nightmares
  • Sadness
  • Isolation

Treatment for Childhood Trauma

Today, there are some clear guidelines on how to help children heal from trauma at all ages of their development3. Essentially, there are four things you can do to help a child cope with trauma:

Create a safe environment – First of all, traumatized children need to feel that they are physically and emotionally safe. Make sure the home they live in is as safe as possible and create a space just for the child within the house. Also make sure they feel safe at home or at school.

Provide adult support – In the best-case scenario, children need three caring adults, besides their parents, to whom they can turn for comfort, attention, and support. These adults should be people who show through their involvement that the child is wonderful and important. Involve family members such as grandparents, a neighbor, or school professionals to give the child this support.

Teach them self-control techniques – Traumatized children constantly experience a “fear, fight or freeze” reaction to life, as if every moment is dangerous. So it’s important to teach them ways to calm themselves. First, work with the child to help them recognize and describe their feelings. Then, offer the child alternative ways to deal with those feelings when they happen. Simple techniques like counting to ten or breathing deeply and calmly can bring relief.

Develop their strengths – Traumatized children need to feel they are back in control of their lives and that they can deal with and overcome bad events. You need to help them achieve this, reinforcing and praising their strengths and positive behaviors.

Consequences of Childhood Trauma

No one can predict how each child will react individually. Studies estimate that up to two-thirds of patients in substance use treatment have a childhood history of sexual, emotional, or physical abuse.

There is a lot to overcome with childhood trauma, but help is available, and a full understanding of what makes healing difficult can help in the recovery process.

That is why it is so important for parents and caregivers to monitor their children’s behavior and regularly check in on what is happening in their world.

Long-Term Effects of Trauma

Childhood trauma has the potential to impact a person’s physical, emotional, social, and cognitive abilities throughout their life. Some typical long-term effects of untreated childhood trauma include:

  • Alcoholism
  • Biological and neurological disorders
  • Chronic depression and/or anxiety disorders
  • Smoking
  • Dropping out of school
  • Drug abuse
  • Early death
  • High-risk behaviors (e.g., exposure to HIV, sexually transmitted diseases)
  • Obesity
  • Suicide

The best thing to do in all cases is always to seek help from a specialist, who will recommend the appropriate treatment and provide detailed medical follow-up targeted to the specific need.

See Also: Child Violence Destroys Dreams
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