Anytime children experience trauma, they are bound to react in different ways depending on influences such as their age, personality and maturity level. When families are involved in a car accident in New York, the resulting trauma may create anxiety, fear and other difficult reactions from children.
Parents that actively seek ways to help their children cope may better recognize triggers. They can provide their children with resources to eventually overcome or at least lessen the emotional side effects of the accident.
Recognizing indications of trauma
Warning signs that indicate the presence of trauma is evident in a variety of behaviors according to psychcentral.com. These include the following:
- Nightmares
- Separation anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts
- Withdrawal
- Inability to focus
- A decline in social function
Implementing coping strategies
With timely and committed intervention, parents have the chance to outfit their children with tools to help them manage their trauma effectively. Prolonged suffering may worsen side effects and deepen the trauma that a child feels. Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests that parents focus their efforts on developing and maintaining consistency in their child’s schedule. They should provide constant reassurance and prepare to listen and discuss their child’s concerns.
During the period of time immediately following a traumatic event, parents should refrain from having their child begin new activities that may increase his or her stress or anxiety. Parents should fully expect to notice digression in certain aspects of their child’s life and remain supportive throughout the process of rebuilding confidence and comfort. Children may also benefit from having an outlet, something they enjoy doing, to participate in when the memory of their trauma becomes too much to bear. Over time, these types of enjoyable activities may serve as a therapy and assist in the healing process.