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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Not Just Statistics. Soul Breaking. Life Altering. Events.

Did you know that? 

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  • Research has shown that trauma closely intertwines with various mental health and behavioral conditions.

  • Trauma is complicated and can stem from a variety of circumstances, such as childhood abuse or neglect, war/violence, physical/emotional/sexual abuse, grief and loss, witnessing acts of violence, intergenerational trauma to name a few.

  • At least 1 in 7 children experience child abuse and/or neglect

  • Nearly 3 in 4 children aged 2-4 years regularly suffer physical punishment and/or psychological violence

  • 1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men report having been sexually abused as a child

  • More than 12 million women and men experience domestic violence over the course of a single year.

  • 26% of children in the United States will witness or experience a traumatic event before they turn four

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What do I say?

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What do I say to someone who tells me they have experienced a traumatic event?

It’s not always easy to know what to say.  Consider the following ways of showing support:

  • Listen. Communicate without judgment.

  • Be there. If the survivor seeks medical attention or plans to report, offer to be there. Your presence can offer the support they need.

  • Offer support. Encourage the survivor to get support. 

  • Be patient. Remember, there is no timetable for recovering from trauma. Avoid putting pressure on them to engage in activities they aren’t ready to do yet.

What do I do?

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Self-care both Physical & Emotional are important:

Self-care is about taking steps to feel healthy.

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Whether it happened recently or years ago, self-care can help you cope with the short and long-term effects of trauma..  You may be healing from injuries or feeling emotionally drained. Consider asking yourself the following questions and make changes, and/or get help as needed:

 

Physical Self-Care:

  • How am I sleeping?  
    - Do I have a sleep ritual or nap pattern that can help me feel more rested?

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  • What types of food am I eating?  
    - What meals make me feel healthy and strong?

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  • What types of exercise do I enjoy?  
    - Are there any activities, that make me feel more energized? 
    - Are there activities I can do to start the day off right or wind down at the end of the day?

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  • Emotional Self-Care - The key to emotional self-care is being in tune with yourself.

    • What fun or leisure activities do I enjoy?

    • Are there events or outings that I look forward to?

    • Do I write down my thoughts in a journal or personal notebook?  

    • Do I have a particular author or favorite website to go to for inspiration?

    • Who do I enjoy spending time with?  

    • Is there someone, or a group of people, that I feel safe and supported around?  

    • Is there a special place, maybe outdoors or at a friend’s house, where I feel comfortable and grounded?

Trauma in Children:

(click here for resources for children)

It’s important to recognize the signs of traumatic stress and its short- and long-term impact.

The signs of traumatic stress may be different in each child. Young children may react differently than older children.

 

Preschool Children

  • Fear being separated from their parent/caregiver

  • Cry or scream a lot

  • Eat poorly or lose weight

  • Have nightmares

 

Elementary School Children

  • Become anxious or fearful

  • Feel guilt or shame

  • Have a hard time concentrating

  • Have difficulty sleeping

 

Middle and High School Children

  • Feel depressed or alone

  • Develop eating disorders or self-harming behaviors

  • Begin abusing alcohol or drugs

  • Become involved in risky sexual behavior

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