Research Review

Timing, Honesty Key to Talking About, Dealing With Trauma

In the aftermath of the horrendous school shooting in Newtown, CT, many parents and caregivers may wonder how, or even whether, to discuss such a traumatic event with their children.

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center experts urge parents to do so soon after the event, to be honest, yet comforting, and to listen to their children.

Tragedies such as the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting offer parents a chance to arm their child with coping strategies and address any underlying fears or anxieties the child may have, says Patrick Kelly, MD, a child psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

When tragedy strikes—at home, down the road, or thousands of miles away—broaching the subject early, being honest and straightforward and contextualizing the situation for the child are the best ways to ward off anxiety, experts advise. Doing so, they say, can help children deal with all types of trauma, including natural disasters, loss of a friend or relative, or a serious illness.

Deal with your own anxiety first: Do not start a conversation with your child until you have calmed down and the initial shock has worn off. Children have perfect radars for parental moods and can easily sense when something is off. Anxious parents can transmit their own anxiety to children, a phenomenon known as “trickle-down anxiety.”

Timing is everything: Start out by finding out how much the child knows already. Ask probing questions, but don’t be too pushy or insistent. If the child refuses to talk about a traumatic event, let it be. This could be a sign that the child is not ready to open up. Research conducted among Katrina survivors shows that discussing trauma that is too fresh or too raw may be retraumatizing, Kelly says. At the same time, he adds, don’t wait too long to broach the subject because you may miss a golden opportunity to frame and contextualize a traumatic event for the child before he or she gets bombarded by images and information from news outlets, social media, and peers.

Questions such as “Is there anything you’re worried about?” “Is there anything you wish to talk about?” or simply “Did you hear about such and such event?” are good openers.

Honesty: Don’t try to conceal or minimize the extent of the tragedy, but don’t go overboard with excessive detail either. A child’s age will dictate the scope and nature of detail a parent should go into. Younger children process trauma very differently from teens. For example, a 7-year-old may not fully grasp the permanence of death. Younger children also tend to continue their daily activities and regular play as normal and process tragedy in a piecemeal fashion, by finding out and accepting a bit more each day.

Reassure children they are safe but remain realistic: Explain that while tragic events like devastating hurricanes or shootings do happen from time to time, they are very rare. Reassure your child that there are measures in place to protect her and that trustworthy people are in charge. Avoid making unrealistic promises like “This won’t happen ever again” or “This can’t happen to us” because a statement like this—if and when proven untrue—can undermine a child’s trust and make him view the world as an unpredictable and scary place.

Safety in routine: Routines and rituals are important for children because they can help maintain a sense of normalcy in an otherwise abnormal situation, Kelly says. Deviation from established routines can send a message that things are not normal. Whenever possible, stick to regular schedule, don’t cancel a play date and don’t keep the child home from school. This can be especially helpful for a child experiencing trauma first hand.

Preparation reduces anxiety: The aftermath of a tragedy is a good time to revisit the family emergency plan—all families should have one, Kelly says. Going over safety “dos” and "don’ts,” whom to call and where to meet in case of an emergency can give both the parent and the child some sense of security and control.

Some anxiety is normal: Don’t panic if a child shows some apprehension and anxiety in the aftermath of a traumatic event. This is probably a healthy sign that the child is processing the occurrence.

— Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine