Signs Children Might Be Internalizing Trauma

Trauma can impact anyone, no matter their age. Both adults and children can suffer from traumatic experiences, and they aren't easy for anyone. Trauma is difficult to process—it takes time and support.

Seeing the effects of trauma in a child who is struggling can be especially painful for their parent or primary caregiver. It isn't easy to come to terms with the fact that your child is dealing with something that could stay with them for a big part of their life.

One of the best things that you can do if you suspect that your child is dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event is to look out for the signs and symptoms. Read on to learn about the signs that children might be internalizing trauma.

Mood Swings

Changes in mood are not uncommon in young children. Learning how to process and understand emotions takes a lot of practice, and children are just getting started. When trauma is involved, the associated emotions are even harder to make sense of.

Processing trauma is a struggle for adults as well as children. Difficulty understanding and properly processing the experience can easily lead to emotional dysregulation, which can manifest as intense mood swings.

Behavioral Changes

Mood changes can also lead to behavioral changes. For example, your formerly happy-go-lucky child might start showing signs of depression or aggression toward themselves or others.

Aggression can be another sign of internalized trauma. It can be directed at siblings, classmates, or even adults. It's important to recognize the signs of these behavioral changes early on—if left unaddressed, they could eventually lead to emotional detachment and difficulty connecting with others.

Clinging to Parents

Trauma can increase fear, especially in young children who don't fully understand what's going on. Similar to adults, children can have a difficult time processing and expressing their thoughts and emotions associated with trauma.

When children are unable to express what they're going through verbally, you might notice they start withdrawing from activities that they previously enjoyed, wanting to constantly be near you or clinging to you more than they used to. They might even pretend to be sick or try to get out of doing certain activities like going to school, participating in extracurricular activities, or hanging out with friends.

Developmental Problems

Parents know how important it is for their children to hit developmental milestones as they grow. Unfortunately, this is another area of life that trauma can affect. It's sometimes even the case that children will experience developmental regression. Wetting the bed or wanting to suck their thumb after they've grown out of these patterns can be a sign that they're internalizing trauma. These behaviors can reappear after months or even years.

When children internalize trauma, it can also impact their daily lives and routines. As a parent, you can look out for changes in your child's eating habits, changes in their sleeping habits, or difficulty concentrating in school. Of course, there are many harmless reasons these changes could occur, and some amount of change is normal.

How to Support Your Child

It's never easy to see your child struggling, especially with something like a traumatic event. Now that you know the signs to look out for, you can work on helping to support them during this time.

Don't hesitate to reach out for additional support through a licensed and trained mental health professional. Even as a parent, you're not expected to have all of the answers in life. A parenting therapist can help your child work through their thoughts and feelings, navigate the changes they're going through, and work towards moving forward. Reach out today to get started.