Trauma

Trauma refers to a set of emotional and physiological responses that arise in reaction to an event or situation perceived by a child as a threat to life, health, or psychological integrity. Sources of trauma may include, among others, experiences of violence, accidents, disasters, the loss of a loved one, severe or chronic illness, forced migration, neglect, as well as witnessing violence.

Such events may be single or repeated, directly experienced or observed, and their impact on the child depends not only on the nature of the event itself, but also on the child’s age, previous experiences, and the availability of support following the event.

Experiencing trauma can lead to difficulties in emotional, social, cognitive, and physical functioning. In children and adolescents, this may manifest as problems with emotion regulation, peer relationships, attention and concentration, sleep, or somatic complaints. Among adolescents, traumatic experiences are often associated with violence, loss, adoption, or migration, as well as prolonged stress and a persistent sense of insecurity.

It is important to emphasise that not every difficult event results in trauma. What matters most is the child’s subjective experience, their developmental stage, and whether they received adequate support from adults after the event.

Not every traumatic experience leads to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nevertheless, such experiences may still have a significant impact on a child’s mental and physical health, as well as on their everyday functioning.

Note: Trauma is not the event itself, but rather the response of the nervous and emotional systems to that event. What may be traumatic for one child may not be so for another, depending on the circumstances and the support available.