With so many deadly terror attacks, therapists say it can trigger PTSD and high anxiety even among the youngest of ages.
At the Crittenton Children’s Center, therapists work with children who have experienced trauma. Director of Intake Services, Amanda Davis says when incidents like the attack in Manchester occur, children can be reminded of their own traumatic experience.
“Whenever they see something on the news or the media, that's traumatic, especially when they hear that children were killed, so that's more relatable to them, it can retrigger maybe some event that have happened to them in the past,” Davis said. “Most of them won't experience a mass shooting or explosion before but anything that's happened to them that relates to them in any way, it can retrigger and might have symptoms again.”
Davis says that can lead to an increase in anxiety or a change in behavior.
“You would see disruptions in things like eating, sleeping, even like bathroom habits,” she said. “Any kind of change than how they normally are could happen.”
Davis recommends the best thing to do when you witness this is to talk with them and understand how to help them cope.
“Don't dismiss it as ‘oh, that happened really far away,’ but that you really listen to their concern and validate what they're worried about and what their experience is,” she said. “Our adult minds, it makes sense that that was really far away, a child can't conceptualize how far away England is. And so really validating their concern is going to be very important and will help decrease their anxiety in and of itself.”
It’s recommended talking with your child about a plan to keep your family safe, whether that’s at school, home or any public setting.
