Children whose families and homes do not provide consistent safety, comfort, and protection may develop ways of coping that allow them to survive and function day to day. For instance, they may be overly sensitive to the moods of others, always watching to figure out what the adults around them are feeling and how they will behave. They may withhold their own emotions from others, never letting them see when they are afraid, sad, or angry. These kinds of learned adaptations make sense when physical and/or emotional threats are ever-present. As a child grows up and encounters situations and relationships that are safe, these adaptations are no longer helpful, and may in fact be counterproductive and interfere with the capacity to live, love, and be loved.
Complex trauma can affect children in a multitude of ways. Here are some common effects.
Share This Post!
Trauma screening may help connect children to specific mental health services
By Penn State Each year between 200,000 and 270,000 children and youth enter foster care placements with child welfare services, and many more children receive child welfare services while remaining in [...]
The Mental Health of Minority and Marginalized Young People: An Opportunity for Action
By Vivek H. Murthy, Surgeon General Mental health is an essential part of overall health. It not only affects the ability of young people to succeed in school, at work, and [...]
How to Break the Cycle of Childhoold Trauma? Help a Baby’s Parents
By Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR Teresa Cox-Bates was only 11 years old when her father died, an event that dramatically altered her family's circumstances and shaped her childhood experiences. Studies also show that [...]
Supporting Children and Teens During the Holiday Season
Provided by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network This fact sheet provides tips that parents can use to talk to their children and teens about how they are feeling and changes to [...]
How a History of Trauma is Affecting the Children of Gaza
By Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR Researchers say the cumulative trauma of chronic ethnic-political violence has a profound and lasting impact on children's mental health and development, affecting their functioning and outlook on the [...]
Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event
Provided by the Child Mind Institute In the wake of a traumatic event, your comfort, support and reassurance can make children feel safe, help them manage their fears, guide them through their [...]