Children and Trauma: How To Notice the Signs

When you see a child acting out and misbehaving, or an adult who seems unable to focus, connect or control emotions, how often do think to yourself, "Hmmm, I wonder if there's trauma in that person's background..." More often than not we just blame and feel abused and/or frustrated by such behaviors - even when they're our own.

Understanding the link between childhood trauma and negative behavior patterns can be critical to treating them.

Three Results of Childhood Trauma

In the video below Dr. Bessel van der Kolk outlines three behavioral areas affected by childhood trauma:

• emotional regulation and attention
• self-soothing/self-destructive behavior
• social bonding

This video clip is a sneak peak of a longer interview that is happening today at 5pm. The interview is FREE when you sign up here at the website for the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine.

Michele is the author of Your Life After Trauma: Powerful Practices to Reclaim Your Identity. Connect with her on Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and her website, HealMyPTSD.com.