How do children and teens react to trauma?
Older children and teens may react to trauma in ways that resemble adult responses, but distress can also appear through disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behavior. Some young people feel guilty because they believe they should have prevented an injury or death, while others have thoughts of revenge. These changes do not establish a diagnosis. They are meaningful signals that a young person may be struggling with fear, stress, loss, or a changed sense of safety after a traumatic event.
