- BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS
- COGNITIVE EFFECTS (i.e. effects on thinking and conscious mental processes)
- PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS (i.e. effects on physical health and biological processes)
Below, I list the possible effects of being exposed to prolonged and significant trauma on young children :
A) FROM 0 YEARS OLD TO TWO YEARS OLD
B) FROM THREE YEARS OLD TO SIX YEARS OLD
A) POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON CHILDREN AGED 0 TO 2 YEARS :
BEHAVIORAL :
Aggression
Regressive behavior
Extreme temper tantrums
Fear of adults connected to the traumatic experiences
Fear of separation from the parent / primary caregiver (see my article about separation anxiety)
Irritability
Anxiety
Sadness
Withdrawn behavior
Highly sensitive ‘startle response’
Prone to excessive screaming and crying
COGNITIVE :
Memory impairment
Impairment of verbal skills
PHYSIOLOGICAL :
Sleep problems
Nightmares
Reduced appetite
Low weight
Problems with digestive system
B) POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON CHILDREN AGED 3 TO 6 YEARS :
BEHAVIORAL :
Aggression
Regressive behavior
Fear of adults connected to the traumatic experiences
Fear of separation from the parent / primary caregiver (see my article about separation anxiety)
Irritability
Anxiety
Sadness
Withdrawn behavior
Highly sensitive ‘startle response’
Low self-confidence
Anxiety / Fearfulness
Difficulty placing trust in others
Difficulties making friends
Self-blame in relation to traumatic experiences (e.g. blaming self for parental separation or believing physical abuse ‘deserved’ for ‘being a bad person‘)
Acting out
Imitating the abusive behavior suffered (e.g. by bullying school peers)
Reenacting traumatic event
Verbal aggression
COGNITIVE :
Memory impairment
Impairment of verbal skills
Problems with concentration and associated problems with learning
PHYSIOLOGICAL :
Sleep problems
Nightmares
Psychosomatic complaints such as headaches and stomach aches
Regressive behavior (i.e. behaving in ways associated with an earlier period of development such as stress-related bed-wetting)
Read my associated article :
Signs An Adult Was Abused As A Child – click here.
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David Hosier BSc Hons; MSc; PGDE(FAHE)