An expert in trauma, about the DANA children: “Not even the most faithful of images manages to convey the inner breakdown at these ages”

In fact, not even the most faithful of the images that have been disseminated in recent weeks of what happened in this Spanish province, he assures, “would be able to convey the inner breakdown and feelings of loss as experienced at these ages.”

And it’s not just about not being able to return home (for a while or permanently), or facing the pain of no longer seeing someone you love. In Rodríguez’s opinion, “they also lose the feeling of not belonging to what until now was known to them, to what they continue to feel as their own, although the present shows them otherwise, significantly challenging the meaning that the world has for them. A flood, a tornado, destroys the child’s beliefs about stability and security in his or her internal world, which will continue in the next stages of growth if they are not helped.

This does not mean, this expert clarifies, “that even adults who have also been victims have to have all the answers, but the important thing is that they do not stand watching from the sidelines without doing anything. Everyone can help children to better understand the traumatic event. In fact, it is essential that the entire community is aware of how urgent and necessary it is to help them. to overcome traumaobviously with an approach adapted to different ages. We have already proven that the systemic view did not work for prevention, but we can carry it out to help the generations that come after us.”

At this point Rodríguez cites doctor and child psychiatrist Bruce Perry, senior member of the Child Trauma Academy and associate professor of Psychiatry at Northwestern University School of Medicine who, after dedicating his career to researching the effects of trauma in childhood, assures that “traumatic experiences can have a devastating impact on the child, to the point of altering their physical, emotional, cognitive and social development.”

This neuroscientist, senior member of the Child Trauma Academy and associate professor of Psychiatry at Northwestern University School of Medicine, also reflects the consequences for their lives, including: increased risk of pregnancy in early adolescence, school failure, victimization , post-traumatic stress disorder, health problems such as autoimmune diseases, heart disease, asthma, among others.

The harsh reality does not go away overnight, nor does the variety of confusing feelings and emotions that produce an unexpected impact. So it is understandable that children use a wide variety of their own coping techniques, which adults may find inexplicable or difficult to understand. So the first steps to help them recover and rebuild their inner world must be taken with great care, dedication and affection. At first with those games, activities and resources that allow them to recover who they are at their own pace. The time will come when they want to ask or talk about what happened, what they have heard or what they think. Let no one doubt that they will do it…!«.

How to calm children

Meanwhile, Nora Rodríguez proposes a series of actions, which she divides into two phases. One, more focused on Early Childhood, up to age 6, in which it proposes recover rhythms and regulatory routines as far as possible. “Children need it to regulate their nervous system.” For this it is necessary, he explains, “to re-establish a daily routine of activities, such as quiet breakfasts, play times and moments of rest, helps them feel in control at this stage. “Rhythmic repetition of songs, swinging games or rhythmic movements stimulates areas of the brain that help regulate stress.” To this we must add the approach of sensory care. Thus, Rodríguez recalls that “a young child’s brain responds favorably to pleasant and calming sensory experiences. Creating moments where the child can enjoy soft textures or warm lights allows them to feel comforted and safe.” At this age, she continues, “they can’t express their emotions with words, so caregivers can help them ‘pause'” when they are overwhelmed. This can be done by giving them a hug, sitting them in a quiet place…” We must not forget, this educator points out, «the importance of play in trauma recovery is known to everyone. Symbolic play allows children to express what they cannot verbalize. So providing them with open play materials such as figures or blocks helps them represent their feelings and fears, including actions of putting together and then tearing down…

Later, in the second childhood (from 7 to 11 years old), he adds, it is already possible to “create together a ‘family safety plan’. “At this age they benefit from participating in creating a ‘safety plan’ for their home, which gives them a sense of control. They often include simple steps, such as knowing how to act in an emergency. The objective of this activity is to reduce anxiety and increase the feeling of belonging,” argues this educator.

Inventing stories is another of Rodríguez’s proposals. Children, he points out, “have their own narratives, whether written, oral or visual. They use all kinds of strategies to relate their experiences, even when they talk in their solo games. Also as a family you can play to create a story by each inventing a part, which does not have to refer to the traumatic event. It’s just about bringing them closer to a way of integrating sensations. Or make drawings together on large sheets all together where they represent important moments in their lives.

And last but not least, rebuild the sense of community. «Carrying out volunteer activities as a family or participating in community events allows children to strengthen their bonds and understand that they belong to a network of people who support them. Sing together to reduce stress. Teach children simple breathing techniques diaphragm for singing together is undoubtedly a powerful tool. Deep, rhythmic breathing reduces the activation of the nervous system and helps children regulate their emotions, which is essential in post-traumatic anxiety situations like this.”