Traumatic events of all variations threaten our sense of safety and security. Unfortunately, they occur around the world and are inevitable. Dealing with trauma is difficult regardless of age. However, children react differently based on their personality, age, and circumstances. After a catastrophic event such as the Newtown tragedy, it is expected that children will be fearful, sad, or apprehensive. Children rely on the support of parents and teachers to help them deal with their emotions during and after traumatic events. Parents should decide how much information their children can handle (ADAA).
Remain as calm and collected as one is capable of. Watch and listen to your child to understand how upset he or she is. Explain a traumatic event as accurately as possible and omit graphic details. Do not disclose more information than your child asks for. Let your child know that it is normal to feel upset, scared or angry. If older children or teenagers want to watch television or read news online about a traumatic event, be available to them, especially to discuss what they are seeing and reading.
These tips are important for children and adolescents of all ages:
- Reassure them that you’ll do everything you can to keep them and their loved ones safe.
- Encourage them to talk and ask questions.
- Let them know that they can be open about their feelings.
- Answer questions honestly.
- Protect them from what they don’t need to know.
- Avoid discussing worst-case scenarios.
- Limit excessive watching and listening to graphic replays of the traumatic event.
- Stick to your daily routine as much as possible.
Most children and teenagers will recover from their fear. But you can watch for these signs of ongoing distress:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Change in eating habits
- Clinginess
- Re-experiencing the event through nightmares, recollections, or play
- Avoidance anything reminiscent of the event
- Emotional numbing or apathy about the event
- Hypervigilance
- Persistent fears about another traumatic event
If after a month or so your child is still showing signs of distress, professional help may be indicated. Children who have trouble getting beyond their fears may be suffering from PTSD, or posttraumatic stress disorder. And that’s when it’s time to seek the assistance of a mental health professional. Many effective treatments are available for children and teens.
A.C.T. will provide free resource information for individuals and families to help promote education. For more information, please contact Dr. Drecun at Dr.Drecun@a4ct.com or (858) 792-3541. You may also visit us online at www.a4ct.com. ACT serves the Del Mar 92014 and Rancho Santa Fe 92067 area.
