Experiencing a severe trauma or being exposed prolonged or repeatedly to traumatic events can affect the way of thinking and feeling about oneself, others and the “world”. It can also affect the mood. For example, many adolescents think that they can’t trust anybody anymore. Consequently, they stop participating in their hobbies and withdraw from their family and friends.
Inability to remember certain aspects of what happened
- By erasing memories of what happened, the brain tries to protect itself from the stress generated by bad memories of the traumatic events.
- It often doesn’t bother adolescents if they can’t fully remember what happened to them. If you have gaps in your memory and you’re troubled by this, try sharing your memories with your family or friends and actively look for information that could fill your memory gaps.
Negative beliefs about oneself, others or the world
- Checking these negative beliefs can help. Ask yourself what other possibilities are there to think about certain things? What would a friend of yours think in the same situation? What could you advise a friend? Does it help to think like this?
Distorted blaming of oneself or others
- It’s normal to have the tendency to blame yourself for what happened to you.
- Holding other people responsible for what happened to you such as your mother or your father (believing they didn’t protect you), without recognizing that the blame is inaccurate, is common.
Persistent negative emotional state
- Having persistent negative strong emotions such as shame, guilt, anger, sadness, and hopelessness is common after traumatic events.
- Try to talk actively to your friends and family about these feelings and try to put them into perspective, if possible.
Diminished interest in activities
- Try to take up a hobby (again) and to meet up with friends. Studies show that social support can be of big help to deal with problems in the aftermath of traumatic events.
Detachment from others
- Try to take up a hobby (again) and to meet up with friends. Studies show that social support can be of big help to deal with problems in the aftermath of traumatic events.
Restricted affect
- Having difficulty to experience positive feelings, such as happiness or love is common after traumatic events.
- If you notice that it isn’t getting better or you’re very stressed about it, talk to your friends and family about it and inquire about therapy options.