TRAUMA AND DISSOCIATION IN CHILDREN

Dissociation is a survival mechanism and one that is often ignored in traumatized children. All humans have a natural ability to mentally ‘leave the room’ when their trauma is utterly unbearable. Dissociation is vital for infants and children who are suffering frightening things, it enables them to keep going in the face of overwhelming fear.

A child often continues to dissociate even when they are no longer in danger. Their brain cannot turn the coping strategy off. The more frightening a child’s traumas are, the more likely they are to dissociate; and children in ongoing danger will develop more and more sophisticated ways to dissociate. Child trauma is much more common than we perceive (Rousseau, 2023). As a result of the trauma, children can dissociate themselves. Dissociation is the essence of trauma, and a person disconnects from their thoughts, feelings, memories, or sense of identity (Van der Kolk,2014). According to Van der Kolk, child abuse and neglect is the largest public health issue facing our nation, and it is the most expensive and devastating thing that can happen (Trauma and Dissociation, 2007). Childhood trauma is the largest public health problem (Rousseau, 2023). 

According to Danielle Rousseau, factors that hinder child development where a child suffers

traumatically can be due to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, separation from

parents, or rejection from parents (Rousseau, 2023). Dissociation manifests in feeling lost,

overwhelmed, abandoned, disconnected from the world, and in seeing oneself as empty,

helpless, trapped, and weighed down (Van der Kolk, 2014). Dissociation is an intriguing

technique of survival, but the most devastating long-term effect of this shutdown is not feeling

real inside, where the trauma is kept alive.

Dissociation is learned early. Infants who live in secure relationships learn to communicate not

only their frustrations and distress. Caregivers ignore your needs or resent your existence

you learn to withdraw (Van der Kolk, 2014). A child is still developing and are dependent on

their caregivers, they are unable to resolve their trauma as it is a complex and complicated task.

Dissociation, then, becomes a common defense mechanism that a child develops to create a less

painful and terrifying world in their mind. 

Children with trauma are more likely to experience dissociation. While some level of dissociation is normal; we all do it. Dissociation allows a person to function in daily life by continuing to avoid being overwhelmed by extremely stressful experiences, both in the past and present. Even if the threat has passed, your brain still says “danger.” However, if it continues into 

adulthood it becomes an automatic response, not a choice. As children with trauma get older, they may use self-harm, food, drugs, alcohol, or any other coping mechanism to maintain the disconnection from unhealed trauma. 

Art and play therapy are common because they help the patient express the trauma when it is too difficult to express it verbally.

References

(2007). Trauma & Dissociation in Children I: Behavioral Impacts [Video file]. Cavalcade Productions. Retrieved December 8, 2023, from Kanopy.

Rousseau, D. (2023). Trauma and Crisis Intervention. Module 2. Childhood Trauma. MET CJ720. Boston University.

Van der Kolk, B.A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking Penguin.

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