Traumatic Events

A traumatic event is an experience that causes physical, emotional, psychological distress, or harm. It is an event that is perceived and experienced as a threat to one’s safety or to the stability of one’s world. Traumatic events range in variety. These events can be from accidents (car, plane, etc.) assault, (including sexual, physical robbery, mugging, or family violence) witnessing something terrible such as a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, mass shootings, warfare, bullying, loss of a parent, loss of home, detention, torture, or pain from a medical procedure. Trauma can result from a single incident or a recurring event like bullying or abuse. Sometimes trauma will not manifest immediately. It can also be triggered by certain stimuli weeks, months, and sometimes years after the event occurred.

Some of our children may have experienced trauma in their life. Handling the situation if you think they could be having trouble will differ per the individual and depending on the trauma.

SYMPTOMS

Some of the signs that would indicate this youth may need assistance are:

  • Unable to enjoy life at all

  • Display sudden severe or delayed reaction to the trauma

  • Unable to escape intense ongoing distressed feelings

  • Behaviors interfere with regular activities

  • Withdrawn

  • Temper tantrums, fearful, crying, & clingy to avoid something that reminds them of the trauma

  • Feels jumpy or has nightmares

Sometimes, in the case of sexual trauma, their reactions can be overly attentive, excessive physical touch/clinginess. They could have a fear of someone of the same sex that the event occurred with.

Do not confuse this with the typical affectionate behaviors. These are very intensified to the degree that the recipient feels uncomfortable. If this happens to you be sure to talk to an adult staff administrator.

What can you do?

If you think they are having a revisit of the episode that has been triggered by some stimuli:

  • Assess the situation and make sure no one is in danger

  • Speak softly and clearly

  • Stay calm

  • Reassure the person that they are safe

  • If possible, ask others to move away (have the other counselors take the group somewhere else).

  • Send someone to get an adult