If Your Child Is Struggling With Trauma You Should Encourage Them To Do This



I haven't had any children yet myself but I've found that when I was growing up this tactic worked for me but also helped me become self aware as a child and adult. 

There are children and teens that find it hard to open up to their parents and adults in general. This could be due to a certain amount of shame we are taught to carry with trauma due to victim blaming culture and the preconception that children should be happy because they are not burdened with the responsibilities of adulthood. That being said trauma can weigh more heavily on a child because they are still learning to become human and the weight of trauma is more difficult on a young person who doesn't have the knowledge and tools of dealing with things the way an adult does. 

Trauma can also be more scary for a child especially if that child doesn't have parental support so if you are a good parent who puts their kids first then know that your child is in a better position than some children dealing with a trauma. 


Young children are less able to anticipate danger or to know how to keep themselves safe, and so are particularly vulnerable to the effects of exposure to trauma. [The National Childhood Traumatic Stress Network]
 

If your child is a preteen or a teen there's one thing you can encourage them to do that may build their susceptibility opening up; keeping a diary. One of the major benefits of journaling is that it can help process emotions which is highly beneficial for a child who is grappling with difficult emotions that come with experiencing traumatic stress so early in life. This will also help improve your Child's communication skills which will help your child to open up naturally in their own time.

Journaling for teens provides an opportunity to vent those challenging emotions without judgment or harsh criticism. As a result, they can have a better picture of themselves and what they could do better next time. [Tilly'sLifeCentre.org]



Journaling can also help your child to reduce their stress levels which is highly important if your child has PTSD as a result of the trauma they have experienced. It can also help them develop their problem solving skills. They will be able to express themselves freely without fear of judgement. Writing in a diary can be freeing when you know it doesn't have any reaction to what you have to say and any kind of reaction can be daunting sometimes even if it's positive. Think of it like a testing ground for your child. They can vent and write how they feel in any moment which gives them time to think about how they can talk about it with others when they feel brave enough to get a human response.

You can also make this more fun and appealing for your child. You can buy fun diaries that have a lock and key, an exercise book with a fun cover or a digitised diary that opens with voice automation. I would recommend the one with lock and key first as the voice automated ones can be tricky.

In my experience keeping a diary has helped me survive my difficult childhood, develop self awareness and helped me develop my creativity and writing skills. I found it helpful in the extreme environment I grew up in so I think it can help any child whether they are experiencing a trauma or not.


How Childhood Trauma Is Unique

Mental Health Benefits Of Journaling For Teens

How Journaling Benefits Teens

How To Get Your Child To Open Up About Their Feelings

Journaling Prompts For Teens

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