Chapter 2- Child Called It
Thoughts to Consider
Summary chapter 2- AVID Quick Write 2 minutes
What was life like before the abuse?
In the 1960’s Dave and his 2 brothers were happy. They had what they considered ‘perfect parents.’
What do you know about the family?
Before the abuse, Dave’s family was the ‘Brady Brunch’ of the 1960’s, this made me think of a happy time.
Researchers have identified two basic types of trauma: one-episode or single-blow psychic trauma, which results from a single, sudden, and unexpected event such as a rape, a bad car accident, or a devastating tornado; and repeated trauma, which arises from long-standing, repeated events, such as sexual or physical abuse.
Each type of psychic trauma has characteristic signs.
One-Episode Trauma / Type I post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
Usually retain detailed memories of the event for a long time. Unlike regular memories, these are uncontrollable; they intrude into their day-to-day activities and can interfere with play, school, and family life.
Nightmare are also common among children with post-traumatic stress disorder Recollections of the traumatic event that occur during waking hours and intrude into the child’s thoughts.
These children may tend to startle easily and be very vigilant
Children often attempt to gain mastery over the randomness and lack of control experienced in a sudden disaster- OCD/ Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can occur
They become preoccupied with finding reasons and ways in which the traumatic event could have been averted a child can become pessimistic about the future and feel little purpose in life- Major Depressive Disorder/Suicide
Repeated Trauma Also Called Type II post-traumatic stress disorder
All of Type 1 and add:
Develops a sickening anticipation and dread of another episode
Children may have a confusing combination of feelings- Personality Disorders
At times angry and sad, at others fearful- adolescences show many times depression as violence or anger
Children appear detached and seem to have no feelings- RAD Syndrome- Reactive attachment disorder
Emotional numbness is a hallmark of this type of trauma
Long-standing or repeated abuse also produces rage in children
Engaging in self-mutilating and self-endangering
Aggressive or delinquent behavior
Identify with the aggressor by turning the rage toward other children become extremely passive
What trauma is this child experiencing?
Affect or emotional regulation, cognition, self-concept.
Look at Early Childhood Trauma and ask question:
“What age do you think the effects of trauma are most severe?” 0-6, 7-13, 14-21, adulthood
0-6
Early Childhood trauma 0-6 most severe
Early Childhood Trauma traumatic experiences that occur to children aged 0-6.
(research-Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain- http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/resources/reports_and_working_papers/working_papers/wp3/
Early childhood trauma has been associated with reduced size of the brain cortex which affects: memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thinking, language, and consciousness
1. Attachment - problems with boundaries, distrust and suspiciousness, social isolation, difficulty attuning to other people's emotional states and points of view, difficulty with perspective taking and difficulty enlisting other people as allies.
2. Biology - Sensorimotor developmental problems, problems with coordination, balance, body tone, difficulties localizing skin contact, hypersensitivity to physical contact, analgesia, somatization, increased medical problems.
3. Affect or emotional regulation - easily-aroused high-intensity emotions, difficulty with emotional self-regulation,
