Trauma
What Is Trauma?
Trauma is defined as the experiencing or witnessing of events in which there is actual or threatened "death, serious injury, or violence" (American Psychiatric Association, 2017, p. 271). Trauma occurs when frightening events or situations overwhelm a child's or adult's ability to cope or deal with what has happened.
Just a few examples of trauma include natural and human-made disasters—such as hurricanes and school shootings—serious motor vehicle accidents, physical or sexual abuse, and domestic violence. Some trauma experts extend the definition to include any stressful events that significantly impair a person's daily functioning—for example, at work or in personal relationships.
This series of resources uses the terms "traumatic events" and "traumatic experiences" to refer to what happened—for example, the hurricane or the violence. It uses the term "effects" of traumatic events and experiences to refer to any resulting thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or changes in relationships.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Trauma-Informed Approach offers similar helpful terms. SAMHSA refers to traumatic experiences and events, and the effects of these experiences and events, as "The Three E's of Trauma: Events, Experiences, and Effects":
Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being (SAMHSA, 2014, p. 7).
The word "trauma" itself is sometimes used in two different ways. "Trauma" is sometimes used to refer to events like those just described. It is sometimes also used to refer to the effects of traumatic experiences or events on an individual. This can be confusing.
Possible Signs of Trauma in PreSchoolers
• Separation anxiety or clinginess towards teachers or primary caregivers
• Regression in previously mastered stages of development (e.g., baby talk or bedwetting/toileting accidents)
• Lack of developmental progress (e.g., not progressing at the same level as peers)
• Re-creating the traumatic event (e.g., repeatedly talking about, “playing” out, or drawing the event)
• Difficulty at naptime or bedtime (e.g., avoiding sleep, waking up, or having nightmares)
• Increased somatic complaints (e.g., headaches, stomach aches, overreacting to minor bumps and bruises)
Changes in behavior (e.g., appetite, unexplained absences, angry outbursts, decreased attention, withdrawal)
• Over- or under-reacting to physical contact, bright lighting, sudden movements, or loud sounds (e.g., bells, slamming doors, or sirens)
• Increased distress (e.g., unusually whiny, irritable, moody)
• Anxiety, fear, and worry about the safety of self and others
• Worry about a recurrence of the traumatic event
• New fears (e.g., fear of the dark, animals, or monsters)
• Statements and questions about death and dying