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The following signs and symptoms will help you become aware of the first signs of general trauma. If you suspect your child is experiencing a certain type of trauma, we have compiled trauma specific signs and symptoms based on our trauma categories.

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	General Trauma
	Signs & Symptoms by Trauma Category

Reactions to trauma may appear immediately after the traumatic event or days and even weeks later. Loss of trust in adults and fear of the event occurring again are responses seen in many children and adolescents who have been exposed to traumatic events. Other reactions vary according to age:

Children 5 years of age and younger reactions may include

• Fear of being separated from the parent,
• Crying, whimpering, screaming,
• Immobility and/or aimless motion, trembling,
• Frightened facial expressions and excessive clinging
• Returning to behaviors exhibited at earlier ages (regressive behaviors), thumb-sucking, bedwetting, fear of darkness.

Children 6 to 11 years old may experience

• Extreme withdrawal,
• Disruptive behavior, and/or inability to pay attention.
• Regressive behaviors,
• Nightmares, sleep problems,
• Irrational fears,
• Irritability,
• Refusal to attend school,
• Outbursts of anger and fighting
• Complain of stomachaches or other bodily symptoms
• Depress

Adolescents 12 to 17 years old may exhibit

• Flashbacks, nightmares,
• Emotional numbing,
• Avoidance of any reminders of the traumatic event,
• Depression,
• Substance abuse,
• Problems with peers, anti-social behavior.
• Withdrawal and isolation,
• Physical complaints,
• Suicidal thoughts,
• School avoidance, academic decline,
• Sleep disturbances, and confusion.
• Extreme guilt over his or her failure to prevent injury or loss of life
• Revenge fantasies that interfere with recovery from the trauma.

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