We can often overlook second-hand trauma in our youth because “it didn’t happen to them”. However, the effects of second-hand trauma can persist for months or years if left untreated.

Second-hand trauma can be described as an indirect exposure to traumatic experiences such as witnessing physical assault or verbal abuse, childhood neglect or abuse, a fatal accident, or a natural disaster. To assess whether a young person has experienced second-hand trauma, let’s take a look at some of the symptoms.

When a child experiences second-hand trauma, the ramifications can include:

• Avoiding situations that cause mental recall of the traumatic event
• Experiencing nightmares or flashbacks about the trauma
• Acting impulsively or aggressively
• Frequently feeling nervous, anxious, or numb
• Having trouble focusing at school

The good news is, all traumas can be healed when they are addressed, and the individual receives support.

Here are just a few active ways we can support children who experienced second-hand trauma:

• Emphasize their safety when they are vulnerable with grounding exercises.
• Look for helpers such as friends, family, or professionals to create a community of support.
• Help them put things into perspective when they feel mentally unstable.

One way that we can prevent second-hand trauma from happening in this day in age is by promoting healthy electronic and social media use. In today’s world, the internet can easily expose children to content that triggers or causes trauma.

Here are some ways to promote healthy social media use for your child:

• Establish yourself as a person they can trust vs. one that controls them.
• Monitor and discuss your child’s social media use as they learn about the world.
• Recognize that the overuse of screens and social media puts brain development at risk.
• Model healthy social media use to be an example for the young people in your life.

Because we live in a fallen world, trauma is a part of our lives. Dr. Matthew Stanford from the Hope and Healing Institute proposes that there are five things God can teach us about trauma and suffering with His Word:

• God is present and in control of our suffering.
• God is good and cares for us.
• Through these experiences, we can draw closer to God.
• Jesus understands what it is to be a human and suffer.
• Our identity is grounded in Christ.

The creator of the universe is in control of all things, including our circumstances. Even when our youth face injustice, they have the opportunity to experience transformative growth. Suffering allows us to know God in a profound way and allows us to enjoy the sweetness of his comfort.

If your child has experienced a second-hand trauma and you would like to provide them with professional support, sign them up for Wellspring’s Bounce Program where they will have the opportunity to receive various methods of professional therapy on their journey towards healing.

If you or your child could benefit from additional trauma support through therapy, sign up for a consultation today!

References

Erdelyi, KM (2022) Can Trauma Be Passed Down From One Generation to the Next?. (n.d.). Retrieved, from https://www.psycom.net/trauma/epigenetics-trauma.

Ellis LD (2022) How to Handle Secondhand Trauma With Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved, from https://www.psycom.net/trauma/secondhand-trauma-and-kids.

Smith, K (2019) PTSD Symptoms in Children and Teens: How to Identify. (n.d.). Retrieved, from https://www.psycom.net/ptsd-in-children-and-adolescents.

Porter, S, Westphalen, D (2022) Secondary Trauma: Definition, Causes, & How to Cope. (n.d.). Retrieved, from https://www.choosingtherapy.com/secondary-trauma.

Williamson, E., Gregory, A., Abrahams, H. et al. Secondary Trauma: Emotional Safety in Sensitive Research. J Acad Ethics 18, 55–70 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-019-09348-y

Stanford, M (n.d.) Five Things the Scriptures Teach Us about Trauma and Suffering …. (n.d.). Retrieved, from https://hopeandhealingcenter.org/five-things-the-scriptures-teach-us-about-trauma-and-suffering-by-dr-matthew-s-stanford.

APA (2023) Keeping teens safe on social media: What parents should know to …. (n.d.). Retrieved, from https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/social-media-parent-tips.