Grief vs Trauma

A program of
Children's Home of Detroit

GRIEF	TRAUMA
Generalized reaction...SADNESS	Generalized reaction...TERROR
Grief reactions are generally known to the public and the professional	Trauma reactions, especially in children, are largely unknown to the public and often to professional counselors as well.
Grief generally does not attack or "disfigure" our identity	Trauma generally attacks, distorts, and "disfigures" our identity
In grief, guilt says, “I wish I would/would not have..."	Trauma guilt says, “It was my fault. I could have prevented it. It should have been me”
In grief dreams tend to be of the person who died	In trauma, dreams are about the child, himself, dying or being hurt
Grief reactions can stand alone	Trauma reactions generally also include grief reactions
In grief, pain is related to the loss	In trauma, pain is related to the tremendous terror and an overwhelming sense of powerlessness and fear for safety
In grief, a child’s anger is generally not destructive	In trauma, a child’s anger often becomes assaultive (even after non-violent trauma, fighting often increases)
A happy 4 year old's drawing of herself.	A 4 year old's drawing of herself after witnessing the brutal attack on her mother.

Children can be traumatized by:

Violent or non-violent incidents.
Separation from a parent through divorce or foster care
A family member's terminal illness or sudden death
Exposure to physical or sexual abuse
Witness of drug use
House fire, tornado, flood, earthquake or hurricane
Drowning, murder, suicide, school violence

Trauma Reactions are DIFFERENT from Grief Reactions
Trauma Reactions OVERPOWER Grief Reactions