In the US, 70% of adults and 1 in 7 children have felt some form of serious physical or emotional harm, also known as trauma, at least once in their lifetime. Trauma is a response to anything that breaks our feeling of safety, like a serious injury, risk of death, natural disaster, an unsafe living situation, separation from a loved one, and/or any type of abuse.
Upsetting events can change how a person may feel or think. While trauma signs are different for each person, here are some common signs to look for.
- Trouble staying focused
- Changes in mood, behavior, and/or eating habits
- Having a hard time sleeping
- Withdrawal from loved ones or favorite activities
- Having little or no hope
- Pains in the body that don’t seem to have a physical cause
Watching someone you love deal with the results of trauma can be very hard. Here are some tips on how to best respond.
- Be emotionally and physically available. The person may not always want to talk, but it feels good to know someone is there if they need to talk.
- Listen with care. When the person does talk about the upsetting event, welcome their feelings and how they decide to handle the event.
- Be supportive. Returning to a normal schedule after an upsetting event can be hard. Be helpful by volunteering to do household jobs, get groceries or other tasks they may need done.
If a person cannot deal with their strong feelings, finds it hard to return to a normal schedule, and keeps thinking about the upsetting event, suggest looking for help from a trained mental health counselor or therapist. To learn more about trauma visit www.nctsn.org , www.childmind.org, www.childwelfare.gov, or www.samhsa.gov.
By Chelsea Tolbert
Chelsea Tolbert is a North Charleston native and is going into her fourth year as a PreK-2nd Grade Counselor for Meeting Street at Burns.
