Recognizing Trauma Triggers

Posted March 10, 2018

Have you ever parented a child who would have an extremely over-the-top response to the littlest thing? Whose response was so disproportionate to the activity that you had to ask yourself, “What is going on?” Many times, responses such as those that don’t match the event are a response to what is known as a “trauma trigger.”

Simply put, trauma triggers are reminders of traumatic events that cause people to want to protect themselves. Triggers make people think they are in danger and should quickly get safety. The triggers are related to a trauma memory and can be things we hear, see, feel, or smell. Our brain recognizes these triggers because when, in the past, we saw, heard, or felt that way, it meant we needed to act quickly in response to a danger or threat.

There are many ways children who have experienced trauma might be triggered. Sometimes, the triggers are easy to identify, and, as caregivers, we can connect the trigger to the traumatic memory. Other times, the trigger may seem utterly unrelated to the traumatic memory, leading us to wonder how the two are connected.

Here are a few examples of responses that may be related to a trauma trigger:

You and the child in your care walk down the street when a car backfires. The loud crack may startle you and cause you to look around curiously. But then you notice that the child you are with has fallen to the sidewalk, curled into a ball as tight as they can make themself, and is covering their head with their arms. As a caregiver, the response to a trigger may not make sense because the same alarm is not going off for you. You hear a car backfire and can very quickly assess that you are in no danger, but the loud crack triggers a painful and traumatic memory for the child, and they instantly move to protect themself. This trigger response is relatively easy to identify by the loud sound of a car backfiring.
You’ve decided to serve green beans for dinner. When you put the green beans on the table, the child has a total meltdown—yelling, crying, and rolling on the ground. The response seems over the top and out of the norm. You later find out that green beans were often served for dinner in a home where the child was mistreated and uncared for.
You and the child in your care visit a friend with an energetic puppy eager to play. The child becomes terrified and clingy and will not let you put them down. While this could be a normal fearful response, it may also be related to a trigger associated with a bad experience with a dog. Sometimes, it just isn’t easy to tell what the cause is.

A quick note about PTSD Very often, we hear about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is an anxiety disorder that could develop months or perhaps years after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. Some examples of traumatic events include, but are certainly not limited to, military combat and interpersonal (one-on-one) violence. It is important to note that not every person who experiences trauma will develop post-traumatic stress disorder.

Triggers, while they may be confusing and disruptive, do serve a purpose and are helpful to prepare children to deal with danger. When a real danger or threat is present, it helps them to know that they need to protect themselves. When the risk or threat is a false alarm, children are left with a lot of bottled-up energy and emotion with nowhere for it to go. The children we are caring for who have experienced repeated trauma may be triggered like this and may have a behavioral response to the trigger.

Is This a Trauma Response?

When children come into our homes, we want them to feel and be safe. Sometimes, it takes a child’s brain and body a long time to shift to feeling safe and knowing they are in a safe place. Many children who experience triggers can respond pretty strongly; after all, they may have used quite a lot. As caregivers, it’s essential that we have a lot of patience and understanding with the children in our care while they are adjusting to being in a safe environment.

“Parenting a traumatized child may require a shift from seeing a ‘bad kid’ to seeing a kid who has had bad things happen.” – Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma, Child Welfare Information Gateway, November 2014

Many times, as caregivers, we must put on our detective hat to try and understand if a behavior is a trauma response due to a trigger or something else. Here are a few suggestions to help in your detective work:

Is the response proportionate to the event? Many times, trauma responses are exaggerated and over the top. So much so that caregivers may ask themselves, “What is that about?” Exaggerated responses may be a red flag that you are dealing with a trauma response that has been triggered.
Think about what was happening just before the behavior. You can often gather clues on what might have caused the behavior if you stop and think about the events leading up to it.
Ask the child. While children may not be able to articulate precisely why they are doing what they are doing, they may be able to tell you what it is not.
Try to learn as much as possible about the child’s history. Talking with the child’s social worker, therapist, or birth family may help shed some light on possible triggers.
Talk to a mental health professional. There are many techniques and strategies for managing trauma responses and triggers. Mental health professionals may be able to help you identify ones that may work best for the child in your care.
Talk with other caregivers who are caring for children with trauma histories and triggers. Explaining a child’s behavior to someone else helps shed light on possible triggers.

Caring for Yourself to Care for the Child

Caring for a child with trauma triggers can feel like a lonely place and can be emotionally taxing. Sometimes, caregivers can experience secondary trauma or emotional pressure that results when an individual hears about the firsthand trauma experience of another. Just as children may have trauma triggers, adults can, too. Many times, the trauma histories of the children we are caring for can be triggers for us, as well. Knowing ourselves and seeking the healing support we need can help us be better caregivers for the children entrusted to our care.

To learn more about trauma and triggers, see the resources at right or call the Wisconsin Family Connections Center; we are here to help!

Downloadable Tip Sheet

This tip sheet provides essential insights for caregivers on understanding and managing trauma triggers in children. Trauma triggers are reminders of past traumatic events that can cause children to react disproportionately to seemingly minor stimuli. Readers will learn how to identify potential trauma responses, understand the purpose of triggers, and differentiate between trauma responses and other behaviors. Read practical tips for caregivers to support children through these responses, including gathering information about the child’s history, consulting mental health professionals, and practicing patience and understanding. Additionally, learn more about the importance of self-care for caregivers to manage the emotional toll of caring for traumatized children.

Read this guide to gain valuable knowledge and strategies for effectively supporting children with trauma histories and ensuring a safe and nurturing environment.