What Is Childhood Trauma?
There are 16-20 million children and adolescents currently at risk for developing trauma-related problems. These include anxiety, depression, substance abuse, failure at school, susceptibility to victimization and abuse, and criminality. We are only now beginning to recognize and address the problem. This program presents an overview of the effects of childhood trauma on the individual and on society.

Significant Event Childhood Trauma
Sometimes a single significant event such as the death of a parent or sibling, parental divorce, violence and natural disasters can cause trauma in the life of a child. It not addressed, they will negatively affect normal and healthy childhood development. Typical effects of trauma are the alarm state, re-experiencing, emotional memory, avoidance and dissociation. Effective intervention involves openness and honesty, nurturance and the frank discussion of details.

The Brain: Effects of Childhood Trauma
Current research confirms that trauma can activate various systems in the brain that actually change neuron response and cognitive pathways. Children that experience on-going high levels of arousal due to trauma will develop systems in their brains that cause them to be constantly hyper-aroused and hyper-vigilant. These changes can result in severe problems for children, adolescents, and adults in learning ability, mood, bonding and attachment, and in problem solving.

Identifying and Responding To Trauma In Ages 0 to 5 Years Old
Young children are either pre-verbal or inexperienced with verbal language and consequently are unable to adequately express their thoughts and feelings or describe threatening life events. Segments in this program include Determining the Trauma, Guidelines for Caregivers, Non-Verbal Interaction, Significant Loss, Dissociating, Being an Example and Acceptance. Emphasis is given on how to intervene to build trust and provide guidance, predictability and support.

Domestic Violence and Childhood Trauma
The connection between trauma in childhood and domestic violence later in life is obvious to Jane Middleton-Moz, a relationship and trauma expert featured in this program. She states "Children who experience domestic violence grow up learning to stuff feelings and emotions. They go through the world in a deep freeze, and have whole parts of themselves cut off. This program also features interviews with Brenda, Tammy and Jamie all recovering from the trauma of domestic violence.

Trauma and Healing
Adults who have suffered trauma in childhood often have difficulty expressing anger. Trauma expert Jane Middleton-Moz states "Anger can be like a balloon. You keep blowing it up until if finally pops, and then only look at the result of the popping. But we also have to look at the blowing up process, which is often the pain and rage caused by childhood trauma." This program also features interviews with Vickie, Cynthia and Curtis, adults recovering from childhood trauma. Recovery ultimately depends on accepting and understanding the original trauma, and then relying on the same survival skills that one had as a child.

A Parent's Guide To Identifying and Responding To Childhood Trauma
The recent terrorist attacks rank high on the trauma scale, but there are other kinds of childhood trauma. This video helps parents identify and respond to trauma from parental divorce, the death of a parent or sibling, a life threatening accident of illness, extreme school violence, and natural catastrophic disasters such as earthquakes, tornados and floods, as well as terrorist attacks. The suddenness of the event, the fear produced, the confusion, and the lack of coping skills make these events traumatic for many children. It is important for parents to know what to do in identifying reactions to these events in their children, and the appropriate responses to take. (39 minutes)

Identifying and Responding To Trauma in Ages 6 to Adolescence
Older children suffering from the effects of emotional trauma are frequently misdiagnosed as having ADD or Chronic Depression. Misdiagnosed characteristics of trauma are typically sex related, with boys who are hyperactive and act-out and girls who dissociate and withdraw. Common trauma-related problems for adolescents also include learning difficulties, test anxiety, difficulty in forming relationships, difficulty with authority figures, substance abuse, acquiescence to abuse and violent behavior. Since teachers spend so much time with the age group, this program specifically targets teachers to help them form positive attachments and offer concrete help to their students. Sample guidelines include being respectful, giving positive reinforcement, investing quality time and attention, being consistent, and building honest relationships.