Early Intervention Matters: Seeking Treatment in the Three Months After Trauma

Early Intervention Matters: Seeking Treatment in the Three Months After Trauma

Identifying how to help your child after they have experienced a traumatic event can feel overwhelming, but there are tips and resources that can help children and their families overcome such experiences. By monitoring symptoms, seeking treatment early, and providing emotional support to your child, they can heal, adapt, and thrive.  

What is the peritraumatic period, and why is it important?

The peritraumatic period is the 12-week period following a traumatic event. Research shows that intervention during this phase can significantly reduce traumatic stress reactions and decrease the onset of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Although there are many factors that impact how one child will respond to a traumatic event compared to another, early intervention can decrease recovery time and improve outcomes for children that have experienced a trauma, such as:

• Physical or sexual abuse or assault
• Family or community violence
• Death or serious injury of a loved one
• Natural disaster
• Automobile accident
• Significant injury or medical procedure

What signs and symptoms should I look for in my child following a traumatic event?

Following a traumatic event, it is normal for your child to exhibit changes in mood, behavior, and/or functioning. Symptoms may appear immediately or after some time has passed. In either case, it is important to pay attention to these changes as they may indicate the presence of child traumatic stress. Signs of child traumatic stress include, but are not limited to:

• Feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, detachment, or shame
• Recurring and unwanted thoughts about the traumatic event
• Reenacting (or the feeling of reliving) the traumatic event
• Avoidance of people, places, or things that remind them of the traumatic event
• Sleep problems (including nightmares and difficulty falling or staying asleep)
• Cognitive issues (including memory problems, difficulty concentrating, or changes in academic performance)
• Bedwetting or other regression in behavior
• Loss of interest or participation in important activities

What can I do if my child has experienced a traumatic event and is displaying symptoms of child traumatic stress?

Not all children experience child traumatic stress after a traumatic event but for those who do, recovery is possible with proper support from caregivers and mental health professionals. Effective treatments like Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) can alleviate or reduce symptoms significantly. Treatment will depend on the nature and timing of the trauma, as well as the severity of symptoms. Caregivers can ask their child’s doctor, school counselor, or social worker for a referral to a mental health professional to discuss treatment options. Additionally, many behavioral health agencies and programs have an intake department, through which caregivers can contact the service line directly.

Additional Tips for Caregivers

In addition to seeking out behavioral health services for your child, you can support them and further assist their recovery by doing the following things:

• Learn about common reactions in response to experiencing a traumatic event so that you can better understand your child’s behavior
• Reassure your child that they are not to blame for what happened to them
• Help your child to feel safe at home and work with school staff to create a safe space for them at school
• Create consistency for your child by maintaining routines
• Allow your child to express their thoughts and feelings
• Try not to push your child to “get over it” or “move on” within a specific time frame
• Be patient. The journey to healing looks different for every child. Create space for your child to heal in their own time.