Violence within a child's community can often be traumatizing to a child. Violence has erupted in the place where they play and are surrounded by their family and friends.

On this page, you will find information that will tell you how to look for signs that a child is traumatized by community violence. We've also included information on how to communicate with this child and places you can go to that will help a child deal with their trauma.

Home | Community Violence

Community Violence is exposure, as a witness or through actual experience, to acts of interpersonal violence perpetrated by individuals who are not intimately related to the victim.

	Signs & Symptoms

• Frequent nightmares, waking in the night, or bedwetting
• Separation anxiety, or school anxiety (concern over or refusal to go to school)
• Excessively worried, fearful, or easily startled
• Physical complaints: headaches, stomachaches, other aches and pains with no clear medical cause
• Aggressive behavior, angry outbursts or irritability
• tearfulness, sadness, talking about scared feelings or scary ideas
• Regressive behaviors, acting "babyish" or younger
• Numb or showing little or no feelings, loss of interest in friends, school or other activities child used to enjoy
• Difficulty concentrating at school or home, daydreaming
• Repeatedly acting out violent events in play, loss creativity