CHILDHOOD TRAUMA
There are many experiences that can lead to trauma. Childhood trauma includes events experienced by a child that threatens their life or bodily integrity. Any type of abuse, for example, can be horrendously traumatic for children. One-time events like any car accident, natural disaster or medical trauma can have a psychological impact on children.
Childhood trauma also does not have to occur directly to the child. For instance, watching a loved one, a close family member suffer can be extremely traumatic as well. Exposure to violent media can also traumatize a child.
Childhood trauma can lead to PTSD:
Children with PTSD may recollect the trauma in their heads over and over again. They may also avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma or they may re-enact their role in the traumatic situation. In an attempt to avoid traumatic experience in future, they become severely anxious and cautious in order to look for warning signs that something dreadful is going to happen again.
Children with PTSD may go through the following issues:
- Anger and aggression issues
2. Anxiety issues
3. School refusal due to lack of interest
4. Depression at its worst
5. Development of new fears
6. Increased thoughts about death or lack of safety
7. Changes in appetite
8. Complaints like headaches and stomach-aches
9. Sadness
10. Problems in sleeping patterns
11. Irritability
12. Trust issues
13. Seeking attention
14. Loss of interest in daily activities
15. Many types of fears
16. Feelings of isolation
17. Low self-esteem
18. Self-destructive behavior
Children who go through childhood trauma have a fear to trust people. They fear losing people. Even children who do not develop PTSD may exhibit emotional and behavioural issues after a traumatic experience.
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA EXPERIENCE
My experience as a child was really traumatic. In my very first post, I mentioned a family member I was really close to. I never imagined my life without her. I lived in a joint family and was really close to my grandmother’s siblings. In the initial memories of my childhood, I remember the last time I met them and I saw a few people laying in their coffin. I was five or six years old when she passed away. The after trauma made me horrible.
WHY?
I was my huge family splitting. I saw people leaving either by showing their pride and ego and walking away and also, I saw my loved ones dying and some of them suffering. No one could ever understand why I was so disinterested in life in general.
They thought I was a spoilt and disobedient child. It was very tough and challenging for me to concentrate on my studies. I had low self-esteem.I was stubborn, sometimes for no reason. I had suicidal thoughts and I also sometimes tried to attempt suicide. But later I got to know and realised that life is something we cannot control because we all have a purpose in life and It is only in God’s hands to give and take back our lives.
When I wanted to express myself there was no one by my side. I hated myself. I hated everyone and had a lot of anger issues, control issues and anxiety.
No matter what I love my people and I am really possessive and overprotective and also, I want them to live peacefully. It is just that I always did not have the ability to verbally express myself and my love for them. My people tolerated my tantrums including my anger towards them for lame or no reasons.
But even now some people do not know that I am a person who suffered a lot in this case. Little do they know I love them and I do care. Remember, when your ego comes in between your relationships, your children will suffer the most.
ANOTHER SHORT STORY:
In another instance, where I got to know about an incident about this little boy. He is a cousin of a cousin. This 3-year-old little sweetheart has a dusky complexion and people call him black. It is spoiling his mental health. It has such a devastating effect on this little creature that he comes to my cousin and says that please give me your soap so that I can take a shower with your soap and become fair like you.
How can people be so mean? I want to ask such people, who are you to tell someone that they are not good enough or discriminate someone like that? Do you have a heart? Or are you just a dead body? Discrimination of any kind can also spoil a child’s mental health. Please stop being so heartless.
