Types of Trauma

The AACAP (American Academy of Child/Adolescent Psychology, has created classifications of the different ways children can be effected. One-Episode Trauma: Children effected by a singular traumatic event often have detailed memories and have a condition commonly known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Nightmares are common among children with OE trauma, and they will effect their day to day lives all the way into adulthood. Repeated Trauma, or Type II PTSD: Type II is only common in children that have grown up in warzone-like areas. Domestic violence is a leading cause of Type II and it is frequent in areas with much gang-related activity. Children with Type II suffer from constant anxiety of another episode and often are more likely to have mental breakdowns than Type I patients.

The Ripple Effect: An Example of How Trauma Works

So for the purposes of this post and possibly others, I'd like you to meet a fictional test subject who's name will be Steve Rogers. Steve Rogers is an unemployed, divorced, 37 year old man living in a government sponsored flat in Chicago. Steve is chronically depressed and has suicidal tendencies. Now obviously, these things didn't happen overnight. Earlier in his life, there was an event which triggered another event, which led to where he is now. For instance, if he was physically abused as a child, it may have effected his grades. This drop in grades could have led to him getting a low-earning blue collar job as an adult. Now, there's nothing too bad about the first ripple, because it's a physical effect, not a mental one. However, let's say that Steve has a girlfriend who he has been seeing a long time. After being abused by his parent/parents, he has a fear of intimacy and is unable to express his emotions with people. Their relationship fades, and Steve turns to alcoholism to dull the pain. Feeling completely alone, he quits his job and lives in the slums drinking away his unemployment checks. As you can see, the secondary ripples are far more drastic and result from the emotional trauma he suffered as a child. Now, this is only one case of the way child trauma can effect a person's life. I hope to share more as my research continues.

Intellectual Hurdles

-Contacted a local psychologist, but he lacks child patients and therefore could not provide me information. He suggested a clinic in the same building as him, and as it's a walking distance from my house, I may just take a visit. -Ever since my failed idea for the fear box experiment, I've lacked ideas about what to pursue as my project. I'm feeling semi-overwhelmed and I need a "Lightbulb moment" to get a push forward. -Our group project is undeveloped and lacks structure. We need to be more unified in our goal so we can start being progressive in this class.

Outliers Stuff

So I logged on to make this amazing life-changing post about how Outliers applies to me, and everybody already stole what I was gonna say. I've already posted about the birth month thing, I'm not a jewish immigrant, and I'm not a genius. (Well, I'm pre-tty close haha just kidding) But anyhoo, Outliers is a cool book, and Gladwell points out some interesting facts about how circumstances are more effective in life than actual intelligence. So we played Pandemic, and my group is the best. I mean, we are THE BEST.

CLEAR! *Brings blog back to life*

I haven't been able to post because I am a lazy American and whatnot. So my Outliers post will come later today one I've finished the book and stuff. 366 pageviews so far since I've started this blog... Meh