The Three Es of Trauma

Event

Event, experience, and effect are the three Ts of trauma. For kids, a traumatic event is a frightening, dangerous, or violent event that poses a threat to a child’s life or bodily integrity. Children may show signs of child traumatic stress when they have been in situations where they feared for their lives, believed that they would be injured, witnessed violence, or tragically lost a loved one. Witnessing a traumatic event that threatens life or physical security of a loved one can also be traumatic. This is particularly important for young children as their sense of safety depends on the perceived safety of their attachment figures. Some examples may include:

• Physical, sexual, or psychological abuse and neglect (including trafficking)
• Natural and technological disasters or terrorism
• Family or community violence
• Sudden or violent loss of a loved one
• Mental illness or substance use disorder (personal or familial)
• Serious accidents or life-threatening illness
• Military family-related stressors (e.g., deployment, parental loss or injury)

Experience

Experience is your child’s unique perception of the event described above. Remember an event that is scary or overwhelming to one child might not be for another child. You are looking to understand your child’s potential experience or perception of the event. Some feelings that your child might experience include shame, isolation, betrayal, fear, etc. Long after the event, strong physical and physiological reactions can persist including terror, helplessness, fear or heart pounding, vomiting, loss of bowel or bladder control.

Effect

The “Effect” refers to the impact the event and experience has upon your child. The impact can be short-term or long-term and it may come on immediately or show up later. The effect and experience of the event might result in new or increased problems in social or family relationships, changes in sleep, eating, or mood, and difficulties thinking, concentrating, and/or expressing emotions.