Common Child Traumatic Stress Symptoms
Birth to Age 2
- Poor verbal skills
- Scream or cry excessively
- Startle easily
- Fear adults who remind them of the traumatic event
- Regressive behaviors
- Excessive temper
- Fear being separated from caregiver
- Irritability, sadness, and anxiety
- Poor appetite
- Sleep Difficulties
- Withdrawn
Ages 2-6
- Difficulty focusing in school
- Learning Disabilities
- Imitate the traumatic event or abuse
- Act out in social situations
- Unable to trust or make friends
- Blame themselves for the traumatic event
- Lack self-confidence
- Physical complaints such as headaches or stomach aches
- Wet the bed
- Regressive Behaviors
Ages 6-11
- Nightmares, sleep disruptions
- Aggression and difficulty with peer relationships in school
- Difficulty with concentration and task completion in school
- Withdrawal and/or emotional numbing
- School avoidance and/or truancy
Ages 12-18
- Antisocial behavior
- School failure
- Impulsive and/or reckless behavior
- School truancy
- Substance abuse
- Running away
- Involvement in violent or abusive dating relationships
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Withdrawing from people or activities they once enjoyed
