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Published

7 years ago

October 8, 2014

Jane Evans

Humans are relatively adaptable beings which is why we are thriving and not dying out like other species. Horrendous disasters such as the Philippines typhoon, the Boxing Day Tsunami, the nuclear disaster in Japan, the major wars of our time, and horrific famines see great suffering, but these events also inspire survival through adaptation. It turns out we possess a strong survival mechanism in our brains directly linked to our bodies, fight, flight, freeze, flop and friend (fffff).

In fact, the survival part of our brain, which is primitive yet effective, is the first to develop in utero starting at around 7 weeks. It regulates our breathing, digestive system, heart rate and temperature, along with the ‘fffff’ system which operates to preserve our life.

If we have to dodge a falling object, jump out of the path of a speeding car, keep very still to avoid being seen, run for the hills from a predator, or get someone potentially threatening ‘onside’ we need this to happen fast. If a baby is scared, cold, hungry, lonely, or in any way overwhelmed, this triggers their survival system and they cry to bring an adult to them to help them survive.

If a baby is repeatedly scared and emotionally overwhelmed and they do not get their survival brain soothed, so they can cope, they begin to develop a brain and bodily system which is on hyper alert and the World seems to be a scary place. Sadly, this is not something they can ‘just grow out of’. Far from it as what neuroscience is showing us from all the recent findings. An early experience has a profound effect on the way in which a child’s brain forms and operates as the survival brain is on over drive and senses threat everywhere so works too hard, too often, for too long.

Babies and young children systems are flooded with potent stress hormones which help in the event of needing the 5 fffff’s, but they are not good to have at high levels for too long. Imagine the feeling when you truly believe you have lost your wallet with all your cards and money in. You feel a bit faint, your brain is whirring, your heart racing, breathing is shallow, and you may get the urge to empty your bowels or bladder. Hopefully, this may only last for the usual 45 minute cycle for those who are not traumatised.

Then, stress hormone levels drop and you can think more clearly and resume your day fairly unscathed. What if you are 4, 9 or 15 years old? How will you cope if your repetitive early childhood trauma of living with domestic violence, unavailable or rough carers, chaos and unpredictability has left you traumatised?

As I referred to at the start, humans are amazingly adaptable in order to survive, although not necessarily thrive. So a child’s system adapts to get whatever basic needs met it can and to live to the next moment, think the soldier in a war zone kind of survival. In an abusive environment, this will make sense but it is not something a child can just stop doing as their survival brain is in charge and has to do what it has learnt to keep them alive.

The kinds of survival behaviours they commonly develop are:

Regression

Presenting as helpless may have made carers frustrated, even angry and rough with them but will mean they sometimes had to touch a child who presented as unable to say get dressed or wipe their bottom or feed themselves – this can look like immaturity and ‘babyish’ behaviour in an 8 year old but it has previously served a purpose

Being held and touched kindly is a basic human need and tragically children in Romanian orphanages who were not, died. Almost ‘pathetically’ children often devise ways which can seem strange, given their age and previous capabilities, to get some physical contact, even if it’s unpleasant

Children often learn to survive by being ‘like a baby’ as they have either learnt how babies get more kindness and attention or have some in-built ‘memory’ of this. However, ‘acting like a baby’ can be negatively viewed as regression, yet it is often an expression of trust in carers as they feel safe enough post abuse to seek out kindness from them. These behaviours need to be handled gently until the child is ready to move on. Imagine you had never experienced physical closeness and gentle touch, but you were driven to seek it out which requires real courage.

Dramatic reactions

When a child is in the ‘I’ve lost my keys’ panic state most of the day, it’s like a pan boiling on the stove and the smallest extra heat causes it to boil over

The survival brain leaps into action at the slightest thing, an accidental shove from another child, a small scratch on the arm, a lost pencil, a ‘look’ from another child and the 5 fffff’s are triggered, for most children that’s flight but if cornered and unable to escape, or previously over used, it will be fight

Children may cry more readily and for much longer and louder as they do not have the ability to self soothe or to be soothed easily as their brain has not been exposed to this and is not wired that way so telling them to ‘calm down’ is of no use

They are feeling things as deeply as they seem to be at this point and are not just ‘attention seeking’

Disassociation

Disassociation or ‘zoning out’ is another way the brain and body cope with high levels of potentially toxic stress hormones for overly long periods. It can also be a learnt survival strategy, submit, switch off and wait for the frightening, painful, incomprehensible act to be over. This ability to switch off can look like defiance or non-compliance as a child may just stare ahead and not respond to requests from adults

Children cannot continuously cope with the muscle tension, nausea, thudding heart, racing thoughts so finding something to fixate on to soothe them can become a great coping strategy and again will look as if they are being non-compliant whereas they are escaping from their trauma the only way they know how.

How long until they do ‘get over it?’

It’s a fair question as to why it’s so hard for traumatised children to trust caring adults. If they were removed from the abuse and trauma as a baby or even directly after birth, surely they should not be having these dramatic reactions?

Going back to our survival part of our brain, this is not designed to be the dominant part of anyone’s brain as we also have an emotional memories part and a thinking, reasoning, socially able cognitive part which should mostly be ‘in charge’. All three areas are interlinked and share info back and forth all the time but mostly we need to think before we act and then we do better. However, if your start in life has made your survival brain ‘hyper alert’ then to manage this is like repeatedly trying to get a squirrel into a matchbox!

Children need us to be calm, kind, to use rhythm, patience and to try to step into their world and emotional state and show empathy. As practitioners, it can be helpful to research ways of supporting traumatised children, pushing for appropriate training and most importantly being very aware of the extra strain that comes with working with and caring for traumatised children. However, with the right long term acceptance, kindness and support children can get a better chance at eventually being able to manage their reactive survival brain which has, after all, got them this far.

Related Topics:Abuse adaptation childhood children Domestic Violence Social Work Social Workers stress survival trauma

Jane Evans

Jane Evans is a Parenting Specialist, Trainer, International Speaker, British Writer and Blogger. Jane regularly appears on BBC Radio Bristol and Wiltshire to comment on and discuss matters relating to children and parenting, Jane is a regular expert contributor for Mini-Kin UK an early years parenting website, UK Fostering and Adoption UK magazine and writes on matters relating to children and parenting impacted by trauma.

52 Comments

Maxine Jackson

December 18, 2014 at 9:15 pm

Amen. “And I’ll drink to that” in my Tasha Smith’s voice. I can sympathize and empathize.
Don Don

December 18, 2014 at 12:13 pm

Bad thinks in our society
Jean Lafever

December 18, 2014 at 8:05 am

I don’t like violence
Jaci Wiley

December 18, 2014 at 12:42 am

Wish the law courts would recognise that spending time with an abusive parent no longer living at home is a form of retraumatising….
Shannon Nichole

December 17, 2014 at 10:34 pm

Just took a training on this. Will start training myself.
Joshua Swan

December 17, 2014 at 9:42 pm

I had a f&cked up childhood
Amy McCall

December 17, 2014 at 8:55 pm

Totally agreed there is nothing more important then protecting an innocent persons childhood
Sabrina Levante

December 17, 2014 at 8:46 pm

Traumas young children experience are not only related to DV cases. Kids are neglected, sexually abused, abandoned, natural disaster victims, car accident victims, even entry or re-entry in foster care are traumas they experience. People expect them to change overnight bc they are safe but they are hard wired to react bc of what they experienced. This is a good article.
Amy McCall

December 17, 2014 at 8:32 pm

I know and understand every victims point of view I was almost killed in front of our children and that’s what it took me to realize that if I don’t leave I will end up getting myself and or my children killed he already took most of my life and children’s life away there was no way in hell he was going to take the rest unfortunately other people r not so lucky I’m just grateful to still be alive and here with my young children
Amy McCall

December 17, 2014 at 8:18 pm

Yes they do in some circumstances some children need to be taken away from both of the parents due to other not willing to leave when the violence esculates sometimes that is was it comes down to to get the women to leave so that she can see life dosnt have to be that way and the safety of her children are more important then anything else in her life example going to work her own safety excetra totally agree with u just saying there are a number of reasons the victim will stay in the end she will hopefully make the right decision the well-being and safety of her children and herself come before anything else before tragedy happens
Donna D Groves Msw

December 17, 2014 at 8:08 pm

Amy I can understand your comments. I, was a domestic abuse victim & when I was battered I was pregnant with my first son. When he told me he would cut my son out of me, it’s like I woke up & realized I had to protect my son. I can’t explain it. I believe there is a lot of truth to what you are saying & unless someone had experienced it first hand it’s hard for others to wrap their mind around the mental clarity of the abused victim. However, there area still a lot of good therapist & abuse shelters that can help victims gain strength to leave but it has to be when the victim is ready (mentally, physically & emotionally). Unfortunately, sometimes it is too late for some but at least people are trying to understand & help.
Donna D Groves Msw

December 17, 2014 at 8:02 pm

I agree. So many times a child may not be the target of the physical or verbal abuse but they are traumatized just by hearing & witnessing the abuse. They need help as well.
Laura Shepard

December 17, 2014 at 7:03 pm

Channelle Lewis
Angie Harper Hall

December 17, 2014 at 5:44 pm

I do pay attention but I also grew up in a home of domestic violence… Not blaming all parents, maybe just mine.
LostPlot

December 17, 2014 at 5:01 pm

@IDickson258 never ceases to amaze me people think they do especially professionals involved with child who really should think
Amy McCall

December 17, 2014 at 4:58 pm

Social workers and family services can not provide everything the women may need and in one way or another the victims will always be judged in some way by others that don’t understand like why don’t u just leave and other statements like that.
Amy McCall

December 17, 2014 at 4:55 pm

I’m sorry but as far as I’m concerned the only women who will ever understand those who r going through that or r experiencing it right now r those women who have been in that situation
Rachelle Henkel

December 17, 2014 at 4:14 pm

i wish people would pay more attention to the social and public health issues at hand with family violence and trauma and not just blame the parents 🙁
Angie Harper Hall

December 17, 2014 at 2:30 pm

Wish parents would pay more attention to their children 🙁
Pallavi Kumari Bind

October 9, 2014 at 9:27 am

🙁
Angie Harper Hall

October 8, 2014 at 9:13 am

Yep! Children don’t have a choice ;(
Jocelyn Mazyck

October 8, 2014 at 8:45 am

Studied
Jocelyn Mazyck

October 8, 2014 at 8:44 am

I love your articles, they are really informative and helping me branch into this field, where I have limited training and education as I studies something else in college.