Trauma Paper

Throughout the years, several adults have been affected by traumatic events that have taken place during their childhood(s). Lenore C. Terr (January, 1999) states, "Childhood trauma appears to be a critical etiological factor in the development of a number of serious disorders both in childhood and in adulthood." To better understand childhood trauma, Terr defines this as, the "mental result of one sudden, external or a series of blows, rendering the young person temporarily helpless and breaking past ordinary coping and defense operations" (January, 1999). The statistics of childhood trauma is alarming. In the United States, there are approximately five million children that experience trauma each year, with two million of these cases

The term “Psychological trauma” refers to damage wrought from a traumatic event, which that damages one’s ability to cope with stressors. “Trauma” is commonly defined as an exposure to a situation in which a person is confronted with an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to self or others’ physical well-being (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Specific types of client trauma frequently encountered by which therapists and other mental health workers frequently encounter in a clinical setting include sexual abuse, physical , or sexual assault, natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, domestic violence, and school or/and work related violence (James & Gilliland, 2001). Traumatic

Trauma is an individual’s visceral reaction to a horrible event, events such as early childhood traumas, accidents, sexual abuse, or community violence (apa.org, 2016). An individual may react with shock and denial in the aftermath. As time continues some reactions may comprise of mood swings, intrusive memories, difficulties maintaining relationships and can manifest into physical symptoms to include headache or upset stomach. There are individuals who experience difficulties functioning in their daily lives; these observable responses are a normal response to the trauma (apa.org, 2016).

Sixty percent of adults report experiencing abuse or other difficult family circumstances during childhood. (Mental Health Connection, N.D.). This shocking statistic exemplifies the high prevalence of childhood trauma. Furthermore, twenty-six percent of children in the United States will witness or experience a traumatic event before the age of four. (Mental Health Connection, N.D.) Trauma is an extremely common and complex phenomenon. But what is trauma? According to Merriam Webster, trauma is defined as, “a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury.” (Merriam Webster, 2017). Dr. Lenore C. Terr from the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of America further describes trauma as unique to each individual. It can be caused by a series of events or one severe incident. Unfortunately, childhood trauma is usually experienced repeatedly. For example, many children endure sexual abuse, bullying, and severe family problems over and over again. Children may experience a variety of traumas that have lasting consequences on their mental health. Those who experience childhood trauma are more likely to develop psychological disorders. This occurs because their brains lack neuroplasticity, which inhibits their ability to adapt to various stressful circumstances.

In the immediate, as well as long-term aftermath of exposure to trauma, children are at risk of developing significant emotional and behavior difficulties (CWIG, 2012). The most damaging types of trauma include early physical and sexual abuse, neglect, emotional/psychological abuse, exposure to domestic violence and other forms of child maltreatment (Hoch, 2009). Research has shown that children that are exposed to these types of trauma will experience developmental delays including language and verbal processing. Also, they will have risk of poor physiological and psychosocial functioning, and will be vulnerable to emotional and behavioral dysregulation disorders, thus, leading to an increase risk of poor outcomes including substance abuse, suicidality, teen pregnancy and paternity, criminal activity, and revictimization (Hoch, 2009).

“American Psychiatric Association defines trauma as an event that represents a threat to life or personal integrity. Trauma can also be experienced when children are faced with a caregiver who acts erratically, emotional and /or physical neglect, and exploitation” (Maltby, L., & Hall, T. 2012. p. 304). Trauma comes in many different forms including: war, rape, kidnapping, abuse, sudden injury, and

Trauma occurs when a child has experienced an event that threatens or causes harm to her emotional and physical well-being. Events can include war, terrorism, natural disasters, but the most common and harmful to a child’s psychosocial well-being are those such as domestic violence, neglect, physical and sexual abuse, maltreatment, and witnessing a traumatic event. While some children may experience a traumatic event and go on to develop normally, many children have long lasting implications into adulthood.

To obtain the measures of the study Hukkelberg used different trauma detections. One of the measures Hukkelberg used was” The Traumatic Events Screening Inventory for Children” (as cited in Ford et al., 2000). “The Traumatic Events Screening Inventory for Children was used to assess trauma experiences” (as cited in Ford et al., 2000). “The Traumatic Events Screening Inventory” (as cited in Ford et al.,2000) assed how serious the trauma experiences were that the child went through. The screening was a checklist that included these experiences “severe accident, natural disaster, sudden death or severe illness of a close person, extremely painful medical procedures, violence outside the family context, witnessing violence within the family physical abuse within the family, sexual abuse inside and outside the family, and other overwhelming experiences” (as cited in Ford et al., 2000). The study had the children rate how many times they were involved in from 0 to 3 (p. 263). “The 0= Not at all, 1 Once a week or less/once in a while, 2= 2 to 4 times a week/ half of the time, and 3= 5 or more times a week/ almost always” (Hukkelberg, 2013). If a child circled a three to all or almost all of the experiences they were involved in they were assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder systems (p. 263).

Trauma is very complex and varied in its nature. Traumatic events include child abuse, neglect and maltreatment. Wamser‐Nanney & Vandenberg (2013) found that one of the more harmful types of trauma is the abuse is committed intentionally. This directly impacts the victim 's safety and sense of trust. The devastating effects of this type of trauma is the way in which it impacts not only the survivors, but also future generations, and the ability they have to form attachments (Connolly, 2011).

Trauma focused CBT research seems to have a strong interest in effectiveness in children, and especially in adolescents (Jensen, Holt, Ormhaug, Egeland, Granly, Hoaas, & Wentzel-Larsen, 2014). The reason is because a significant number of children throughout the world, experienced trauma. If left untreated, trauma can cause mental disabilities to develop. It has been supported that Trauma focused CBT is an effective form of treatment for children

This paper will examine how traumatic grief, caused by loss of a parent, presents itself as a condition in children, and is experienced as a clinical syndrome of separation distress and yearning, and is the central feature of the DSM V- Code of Bereavement (Edgar-Bailey and Kress, 2010). The research examined will further explain how this kind of traumatic grief is experienced by children between the ages of seven and 12 (i.e. a significant condition of traumatic grief, excluding cases of suicide and homicide) and within their specific Western culture and community. The Meaning-Reconstruction Model (MRM) provides clarification, according to Lister, S. et al. (2008) and best supports how complex grief and loss can be released and processed. The MRM helps the child (similar to the process of a bereaving adult according to Bowlby, 1980) find new

Childhood trauma is one of the most heartbreaking situations to ever fathom happening. Childhood trauma includes neglect, maltreatment, physical and emotional abuse, and many other forms of mistreatment amongst children. Childhood trauma occurs between the ages of 0 and 6 years of age. When referencing to childhood trauma, one must take thought into who commits the abuse, who is affected by the abuse, and what long term effects can the abuse have on the victims. One must also take into consideration the sex differences when referring to childhood trauma. Numerous of studies have been conducted and many findings have been made. Prior to conducting this research paper, I only considered childhood trauma to be what it was and never considered the long term effects. Because of my assumption, I never even considered the other categories of the trauma.

There are many types of trauma that can effect an adolescent and without the proper treatment of the traumatic event the adolescent can have difficulty adapting and developing into adulthood. Kathleen J. Moroz, of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, defines trauma as a physical or psychological threat or assault to a child’s physical integrity, sense of self, safety of survival or to the physical safety of another person significant to the child. She goes on to list the types of trauma a child may be exposed to. Abuse of every kind, domestic violence, natural disasters, abandonment, serious illness or an accident are just a few traumatic events that can effect the development of a child. (2) When these events occur as an acute event

It is shocking for me to see the statistics about trauma for young children. According to the article, Understanding Early Childhood Mental Health, it states that an estimated 44, 512 children younger than 3 years were exposed to trauma sometime during 2009 and this represents 33.4% of all children who were exposed to trauma during that year. This numbers are higher than I expected. This case of trauma to children will have a huge impact to children’s learning as they will have some symptoms of trauma, such as sleep problems, eating problems, stress, regression and aggressive outburn as the PowerPoint mentions. Their education will be affected as they do not have that energy to go to school and be consistent in their studies.

Judith Herman’s Trauma and Recovery was an amazing read because it tackles the question of “What does it actually mean to be traumatized?” Every single person, no matter how old, has experienced some level of fear— especially those of us who live in NYC! Whether it’s a yellow cab running a red light as you cross 56th Street, the aggressive homeless man on the 6 train who can’t accept the fact that you don’t have any spare change to give, or that time you decided to have street meat for dinner and were stuck on the toilet for the remainder of your night, we can all identify the ways in which our body responds to moments of distress. You may break out into a sprint, your heart beats against your chest as you sweat profusely, and you might even shed tears. In those moments, your entire existence becomes focused around the perceived life or death situation.