Trauma
Examples of potentially traumatic events:
Physical abuse and maltreatment
Sexual abuse
Family, school, or community violence
Death of a loved one, (especially a parent or caregiver)
Domestic violence
Community violence and criminal victimization
Medical trauma and chronic illness
Separation from a caregiver
Traumatic loss
Accidents/fires
Natural Disasters
War/terrorism
Adverse community environments
Racism/Discrimination
Poverty
Community Disruption
Lack of Opportunity, Economic Mobility & Social Capital
Poor Housing Quality & Affordability
Violence
What is Childhood Trauma?
Trauma occurs when a child experiences an intense event that threatens or causes harm to his or her emotional and physical well-being. Some events are more likely to be traumatic than others and people can have very different responses to the same event. When a child experiences trauma, it can affect their daily lives and their ability to get along with others.
Those who have experienced an intense trauma may respond/experience future stressors as though they are threatening or dangerous even if they are not, triggering the body's systems for keeping them safe.
Fight: irritability, anger, aggression, moving toward
Flight: anxiety & fear, panic, avoiding, chronic worry, perfectionism
Freeze: stuckness, collapse, immobilization, spacing out, depression, shame
Fawn: people-pleasing, avoiding conflict, prioritizing others' needs over their own, difficulty saying no, difficulty setting boundaries.
Please keep your counselor informed about any potentially traumatic events that you/your child has experienced so that they can help support you!!
For more resources, please reach out to the counseling office for your school. :)