With news accounts of wars and mass shootings, many of us are on edge. Please understand that while the events are real, we must maintain perspective. Our local law enforcement is highly trained in these areas, and we are here for you.
Trauma can be experienced directly or indirectly, through sensory input that the mind interprets as real. Oftentimes, children do not have the maturity to distinguish what is real from what is imagined, and when they don’t know or understand the details, their imagination fills in the blanks, and it can be quite scary. Real or imagined, the mind reacts in much the same way as it does if in actual fear or in a vivid nightmare … heart racing, shallow breathing, and desperately seeking a way out.
When the media is filled with images of war and talk of atrocities, topped with mass shootings, a child and even their parents can feel enormously vulnerable and overwhelmed. Witnessing traumatic events in the news, particularly on television, creates a physical and emotional response that makes you want to stop it, yet you can’t think of what to do, so you keep watching in hopes that an answer will emerge. When that doesn’t happen, your mind seeks to justify the incident, because you know you would never do such things, so it becomes difficult to believe that others could … yet, it is the knowledge that these events are real that creates overt and subtle levels of anxiety that may be difficult to identify.
We often talk about mental health, almost to the point of redundancy, but part of what happens is that when we are inundated with dramatic images of horrific events, and since our natural instinct is towards survival, the physical stress of fight or flight kicks in … the problem is that there is nowhere to go.
Those experiencing trauma don’t just remember the incident, they relive it, thereby making it difficult to move on. According to Psychology Today, those in trauma experience anger about the incident, sadness for the resulting pain, and guilt wondering if somehow, they deserved it. Distrust evolves as they search for the cause and realize that their vulnerability may have originated from misguided trust. They question their ability to detect danger, making them fearful in situations that don’t warrant such a reaction. Self-esteem develops as they wonder if they are inadequate to handle life because others don’t seem as concerned.
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Research is finding that the bombardment of traumatic materials in the media can lead observers to experience anxiety, difficulties in coping, immense fear, and feelings of helplessness, and in some cases even post-traumatic stress disorder.
When children are exposed to disturbing stories, images, or videos, they may find it difficult to process and cope with distressing stimuli. This may lead children to struggle with fear, anxiety, aggression, sleeping problems, and behavioral difficulties. One study suggests that watching just five minutes of distressing news daily can lead to these types of secondary traumatic stress symptoms in preschool-aged children.
According to the National Institute of Health, children and adolescents respond to traumatic events in the following ways:
- Report having physical problems such as stomachaches or headaches
- Have nightmares or other sleep problems, including refusing to go to bed
- Have trouble concentrating
- Lose interest in activities they normally enjoy
- Have feelings of guilt for not preventing injuries or deaths
- Have thoughts of revenge
Young children (age 5 and younger) may:
- Cling to caregivers and/or cry and be tearful
- Have tantrums or be irritable or disruptive
- Suddenly return to behaviors such as bed-wetting and thumb-sucking
- Show increased fearfulness (for example, fear of the dark, monsters, or being alone)
- Incorporate aspects of the traumatic event into imaginary play
Older children and adolescents may:
- Have problems in school
- Withdraw or become isolated from family and friends
- Avoid reminders of the event
- Use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco
- Be disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive
- Be angry or resentful
What can parents do?
- Encourage the child to talk about their feelings and validate their emotions
- Help them understand that they are not at fault
- Answer their questions honestly
- Reassure the child that you’ll do everything you can to keep them safe
- Stick to a daily routine as much as possible
- Be patient as each child recovers at their own pace
If in need of mental health services, please contact Vail Behavioral Health at VailHealthbh.org, local 24/7 crisis response at (844) 493-8255, or schedule an appointment at (970) 445-2489.
If concerned about an imminent danger, please call 911. We are here for you.
James van Beek is the Eagle County sheriff. You can reach him at [email protected].