It is normal for children to have an emotional or physical response to a traumatic event. Examples of traumatic events include emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, violence, accidents, natural disasters, severe physical injuries, and life-threatening illnesses.

Children’s reactions to an event can vary, and some reactions are more severe than others. If a child’s reaction to a traumatic event becomes very intense, lasts for a long time, and impacts their ability to function, they may have a mental health issue.

Signs and Symptoms of a Problem After a Traumatic Event

Your child may have a problem after a traumatic event if they:

• Refuse to return to school
• Cling to parents or other family members
• Have persistent fears related to the traumatic event
• Have nightmares, scream during their sleep, or wet the bed
• Lose concentration
• Are increasingly irritable
• Are easily startled and jumpy
• Begin to have behavior problems at home and school that are not typical for them
• Complain of stomachaches, headaches, or dizziness with no known physical cause
• Withdraw from friends and family
• Are extremely sad and listless
• Are less interested in activities they enjoy
• Are preoccupied with the details of the event
• Start acting younger than their age. Some examples of behaviors include bed-wetting, clingy behavior, thumb-sucking, and sharing a bed with a parent.

Possible Mental Health Diagnoses

Possible mental health diagnoses within this symptom cluster include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Substance use and dependence