What happens when trauma impacts the developing minds of young people?

When a young person experiences a traumatic event, it is often unclear the types of reactions they might

display, or how this event might affect them in the longer term. Many children and adolescents will

experience some type of reaction following traumatic events, but fortunately, most are resilient and

gradually return to their previous functioning over time. However, there are some young people who

continue to experience difficulties over time.

Children can express trauma reactions in very different ways to adults.

• Many children are resilient and experience only few reactions. Some report feeling more confident or

finding other positive changes following trauma. We call this Post Traumatic Growth.

• Some children may express a lot of different reactions, or one intense reaction, immediately following

the event, but gradually return to their previous functioning over time.

• Some children express immediate reactions, and these persist over time. Sometimes the reactions can

even change over time.

• Some children appear resilient at first, but display reactions later on.

Explanation:

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Trauma reactions in young people - Emerging Minds

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