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Trauma can include moving homes, having a parent who works away long-distance, parents with marital difficulties, divorce, substance use, abuse, or neglect. Illness, loss, or death of a pet or family member can be especially challenging for kids and teens. Trauma can also include difficulties in school such as bullying, switching schools, academic challenges, learning disabilities. Trauma can include mental health, developmental, or physical health diagnoses. Trauma shows up in all different types of ways including social anxiety or "shyness", technology addiction, isolation or withdrawing, frequent tension, irritability, swearing and aggression.
Mental Health
Here are some examples of how mental health concerns might show up in your child's life both in school and at home.
Anxiety
This can show up as: panic attacks, irritability, isolation, addiction, always with friends, stomach issues, not wanting to leave the house or try new things, perfectionism/"over achieving"
ADHD
This can show up as: feelings of overwhelm, exhaustion, burn out, difficulty with goal setting, difficulty maintaining motivation, difficulty with focus and concentration, caregiving/attuning to everyone else's needs
Depression
This can show up as: anger, frustration, sadness, grief, meltdowns, extreme behaviours, lack of energy, procrastination, lack of motivation, fatigue, hopelessness, and helplessness
Low Self-Esteem
This can show up as: fear of rejection, being the victim of bullying or being the bully, body image issues, disordered eating and exercise, socially withdrawing, spending a lot of time maintaining physical appearance