A Brief Introduction to Childhood Trauma

If you or your child has ever been screened for a mental health issue or participated in therapy before, it is likely that you have heard the word trauma. But what exactly does this mean? We are going to take a brief look at what childhood trauma is, how it can impact a child and family, and why it is so important for us to screen for these experiences. 

Between 1995 and 1997, The CDC and Kaiser Permanente conducted one of the largest studies on childhood abuse and neglect and how they relate to later-life health and well-being. This study was called the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study or ACE Study. It measured how often a person experienced the following in their first 18 years of life: emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse; household challenges identified as mother treated violently, substance abuse within the household, mental illness in the household, parent separation or divorce, or an incarcerated family member; and finally, emotional neglect and physical neglect. The study concluded that there was a strong connection between the number of adverse childhood experiences and issues later in life, including injuries like broken bones and burns, mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and suicide, maternal health issues like unplanned pregnancy, chronic disease like cancer and diabetes, risky behaviors like alcohol and drug abuse, and limited opportunities for education and income. While ACEs are extremely common and some children are more at risk for ACEs than others, they are preventable through creating a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for each and every child. 

Through the Child and Family Therapy Programs at Forty Carrots Family Center, it is common practice for the therapists to assess for exposure to trauma and potentially traumatic experiences for each client, oftentimes even administering the ACE questionnaire. Simply put, we define potentially traumatic events for children as any frightening, dangerous, or violent incidents that may impact a child’s sense of safety or emotional well-being. Events that may be potentially traumatic to children include all of the events mentioned above measured in the ACE Study (abuse, neglect, and household challenges), but also things like major accidents or injuries, natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, fires, etc., death of a loved one, or experiencing or witnessing a major medical issue. It is important to remember that only the individual who has experienced the event can determine whether or not it was traumatic to them. 

So how does trauma present in children? There is no one-size-fits-all for trauma symptoms and many of typical trauma reactions can also be symptoms of typical childhood development or other issues. So while it is important to be aware of potential trauma reactions, these alone cannot determine whether or not a child has been through a trauma. Some common trauma reactions can include the following: re-experiencing the trauma through nightmares, flashbacks, distressing thoughts and feelings about the trauma, or physical or emotional distress after experiencing a trauma reminder; avoidance of trauma reminders through drug and alcohol use, avoiding activities, people, and places that remind one of the trauma, suppressing thoughts and feelings related to the trauma, general suppression of feelings, or avoiding talking about the trauma; negative thoughts and feelings through blaming oneself, loss of interest in activities, feelings of isolation, difficulty experiencing any positive feelings, loss of memory about the trauma, and excessive negative thoughts about oneself or the world; and hyperarousal through becoming irritable and quick to anger, heightened startle reaction, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, feelings of anxiety with symptoms like a racing heart, stomach aches, and headaches, and risky or impulsive behaviors. 

It is so important for mental health therapists, schools, and other professionals to screen for potentially traumatic experiences, as the symptoms can so often present as things like ADHD. This is also why it is necessary for you as a caregiver to be able to share any potential trauma exposures with your child’s therapist. While it may be easy for a school or other family member to identify a child has having difficult behaviors, inattention/hyperactivity, or other disruptive and acting out behaviors, if there is a trauma history, this should always be assessed and addressed first. Once a trauma disorder is identified, there are many different options for trauma treatment that can be very effective in helping a child and family heal. If you have any questions about trauma or trauma treatment, please reach out to the Child and Family Therapy Programs at Forty Carrots so that we can provide you and your family with the necessary support.

References: 
cdc.gov
nctsn.org