Trauma
- An extreme form of stress
Despite adults' best efforts, children are not always spared from traumatic experiences. Children proceed through a variety of stages when faced with a traumatic event.
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Terror - expressed through crying, vomiting, becoming mute or running away
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Rage and anger - with accompanying physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, tension in muscles, etc
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Denial - expressed as unwillingness to talk about what happened or withdrawing into unusual patterns of behaviour
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Grief - which could remain unresolved unless appropriately addressed
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Shame and guilt - Children do not believe in randomness and may even feel at fault after a disaster. These feelings need to be addressed as the child may not know how to resolve them on his or her own
While parents are often in a good position to help children who have been through trauma, it is often also a good idea to work together with a professional such as a psychologist to evaluate the child's progress. |
Can children be stressed?
Children experience stress just as adults do. Even though they might not work or have to face many of the issues that adults deal with, children can become stressed by peer pressure, academic demands, various fears and feelings of insecurity. Stress in children often goes unrecognised as children are less able to describe how they are feeling and what they are going through. Very often, stress manifests as a physical complaint or as a behaviour problem. These children are then mistaken for being naughty, rude or disobedient.
What are signs that a child is feeling stressed?
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Changes in behaviour and habits
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Loss of interest in activities he or she used to enjoy
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Increased irritability, moodiness and tears
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Return to less mature behaviour such as thumb sucking, tantrums or even bedwetting (regression)
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Subtle reactions such as a strange look or frowning
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Recurring stomachaches, headaches or other pains
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Being more quiet than usual
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Excessive restlessness and difficulty settling down
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Increased reactivity - for example, becoming disproportionately upset over a small mistake
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Sleep disturbance
What can I do if I think that my child is feeling stressed?
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Help your child to identify what is happening. Teach him or her to recognise the signs of stress and the changes they feel in themselves (e.g. rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, stomachaches, etc.)
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Talk and encourage your child to express his or her feelings openly. Acknowledge their feelings and let them know that it is okay to feel that way.
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Help your child to view a distressing situation more positively by engaging them in problem solving or using humour to help lighten the situation.
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Provide opportunities for exercise and physical activity. Exercise and physical activity can help burn off stressful feelings.
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Ensure that your child is eating well and getting enough rest. Physical well being is all the more important when your child is experiencing psychological and emotional stress.
A supportive family environment and healthy parent-child relationship are key in helping children overcome their feelings of stress. However, there may be times or particular situations when parents feel unsure or unable to cope with their child's distress. Under such circumstances, parents should consider consulting with a professional such as a psychologist to address their child's issues more effectively.
Note: This document is not a substitute for professional medical / psychiatric / psychological consultation
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