A symptom of Stress and Trauma:
Avoidance
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What does "Avoidance" mean?
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Actively avoiding things that remind you of a traumatic event. Children might try not to:
- Talk or think about it
- Feel big emotions
- Do things or be around people related to it
In children aged 2-5 years
- Not reaching out for comfort if hurt
- Refusing to be held, hugged, or comforted
- Not wanting to do fun things
- Staring blankly at a happy group of children
- Running away or getting distracted when something reminds them of traumatic events
In children aged 6-10 years
- Spending a lot of time in their room or away from family
- Not talking at all or giving short answers
- Becoming very quiet and still or very loud and distracting when something reminds them of the traumatic event
- Not wanting to do fun things
