How to help children recover and thrive after adversity đ
Traumatic events donât always leave physical scars, but they often leave emotional and psychological ones. Those imprints can affect a childâs mental and physical health for years to come â and even into adulthood.
Psychologist Kate Eshleman, PsyD, says that often, children can move on from traumatic events and thrive. But they may need a helping hand. âThere are things parents and caregivers can do to support a child after trauma.â
âŞď¸Understanding adverse childhood experiences
Child health experts often talk about adverse childhood experiences (sometimes called ACEs) â traumatic events in a childâs life.
Some ACEs are clearly terrifying â such as abuse, witnessing extreme violence or surviving a natural disaster.
âParents should be mindful that even though an event might not seem traumatic to them, it may have been traumatic for their child,â she says.
âŞď¸Lingering effects of stress: risk factors
Many children who experience an adverse event donât have long-lasting effects. Still, some factors increase the chance of later problems, Dr. Eshleman says:
đAge
Trauma can leave a stamp at any age. But children who experience an adverse event before the age of 8 may be particularly vulnerable.
đLevel of trauma
Not everyone experiences trauma the same way. Some kids can bounce back from major stressors while others are more affected by things that, on the surface, seem less severe. Overall, the more extreme the trauma, the higher the risk for lasting difficulty.
đDuration of trauma
Chronic or repeated exposure to adverse events increases the risk of lasting health problems. Children who witness repeated violence in an unsafe neighborhood, or those who are abused, are more likely to have long-term problems than a child who experiences a one-time event, such as a car crash.
âŞď¸Support and treatment for childhood trauma
If youâre caring for a child who has survived trauma, you might be feeling overwhelmed by all the possible outcomes. Itâs worth repeating: Those outcomes arenât inevitable. As a caregiver, you can take steps to reduce the risks for your child:
đHear what your child is saying
đWatch for clues
đTalk it out
đAsk for help
đTake care of yourself
Yours, Katie Bishop
Great Britain
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