This has been a challenging time in our community, complicated by bad news coming from some part of our country every day. Children are aware of emotions, even if they can’t express them in a way their parents can hear or understand. So how can you tell if your son or daughter has experienced high levels of traumatic stress, leading to the dangerous symptoms of acute stress syndrome that affects emotional and physical health?
Look for the following symptoms to determine if your child is affected.
- “I feel dizzy”
- “I feel tired”
- “I have a stomach ache”
- “I don’t feel good”
- “I feel pain in my arms and legs”
- “I feel pain in my joints”
- “I feel weak in my body”
- “I don’t feel well”
- “I have a headache”
- “I feel sick”
- “I feel shaky inside, (or outside)”
- “I feel like throwing up”
(For a longer list check out the European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 1, 31-47).
While it is normal for children to feel any of these physical symptoms at times, (like the first day of school or after a pet has died), the combination of multiple physical symptoms after a community crisis could be an indication of dangerous stressoverload being internalized, which can lead to harmful symptoms that might hurt your child.
Start by checking out your child’s physical health symptom with your pediatrician, that’s smart and if you have a relationship with a trusted child therapist you might schedule an appointment for a specific fearful event, (like parents who are divorcing or a grandparent with cancer). There is peace in knowing that a professional has checked out your child’s symptoms to see if there is something else going on.
However, for many of the unspecified symptoms listed perhaps use creative arts to reduce the stress or worry your child may be feeling inside to teach them how to express and manage the scary emotions they may be experiencing.
Artistic and emotional expression is a powerful way to release pain. Try any of the following to help your child develop coping skills to identify and process their own emotions during scary situations.
- Finger painting
- Coloring books
- Free drawing
- Writing Poetry
- Cutting out paper
- Creating a mobile
- Creating a craft
- Working with clay
- Playing musical instruments
- Playing with blocks/Legos
- Singing or learning new songs
- Planting flowers or gardening
- Painting on paper or canvas
You may not think of these simple creative arts as a powerful form of reducing dangerous stress and anxiety; however research shows when you are totally immersed in creativity that your blood pressure and heart rate go down.
It is peaceful for your brain to move from chaos to calm through creativity – and the best part is you can enjoy the creative calm along with your child. Try it!
About the Author – Dwight Bain helps people rewrite their stories with transformational counseling and coaching from his hometown of Orlando. Follow him online atwww.DwightBain.com or on social @DwightBain
