CAN children suffer from stress? What do you think? Yes, they can – there is so much going on in their lives nowadays. Or no, they can’t – after all, what do children have to stress over? The truth is that stress is a normal part of life for everyone, and learning to manage distress, disaster or misfortune, is a significant feature of healthy child development. Most people build some resistance to stress – enough so that they can process stressful events and move on positively – this is known as tolerable stress.

Tolerable stress is more manageable when there is a friend or family member to turn to who helps to cushion (the blow or) how we feel. Toxic stress however, can negatively impact and shape a child’s future? In severe cases, it becomes an ‘adverse childhood experience’ leading to chronic illnesses in later life, such as heart problems, cancer and diabetes.

Toxic stress happens when a child with little or no adult support witnesses or is involved in prolonged and extreme adverse events that become traumatic. Events include domestic violence, sexual or physical abuse, neglect or abandonment. A fatal car crash, or sudden loss of a loved one can also cause toxic stress, although you cannot see how toxic stress and trauma affect the mind. In children, it can change their brain’s anatomy and chemistry and interfere with normal brain growth.

A father may think it is okay to throw his 3-year-old across the room in anger if the child does something wrong. ‘That will teach him a lesson, he tells himself, ‘I bet he won’t do that again’. Reprimanding children with heinous acts of violence causes pain, distress, and unforeseen problems for their physical and mental future. Leaving children to fend for themselves unsupervised and treating them with contempt or disregard affect their state of mind. Adults who treat children harshly are failing them on several levels. How can children who are mistreated rise to their full potential? What type of adults will they become?

Abused children have poor self-esteem and usually have problems making and maintaining friendships. They need to get along with others for their social and emotional development; if not, they feel like misfits. Due to toxic stress children often feel isolated, and may try desperately to be accepted by peers. Such children are known for their persistent disruptive behaviour.

When it comes to academics, these children usually have poor concentration and are easily distracted. They cannot process what is happening because of repeated exposure to the same events and because they have no control over what goes on in their lives. Their frustration can turn to aggression and they lash out, causing conflict at home or school, which could lead to exclusion.

Whether the child is excluded from school or not, he misses valuable learning hours due to his predicament, which reduces his chances of taking examinations and progressing to further education. The lack of suitable qualifications will limit his opportunities in the job market. He may find menial, low-paid work to survive. But the job will not boost his morale or confidence, leading to depression.
To alleviate depression, he turns to drugs and becomes addicted. This is one scenario of how ‘adverse childhood experiences’ could lead to physical or mental illness in later life.

We all have stress response systems, even those who profess, ‘I’m too blessed to be stressed’. The body’s response system takes effect naturally. For example, we feel positive stress when we are attending a long-awaited event with anticipation, or we rise to and overcome a challenge. (like getting ten out of ten answers right on a test). Positive stress is good for our bodies; it is temporary and causes no harm.

But for children with toxic stress, the worse ‘adverse childhood experiences’ they encounter, the more possibility of ill-health, depression, substance abuse, and other mental health problems facing them in adulthood. Research shows that children with adverse childhood experiences are more likely to go to prison or adopt self-harming behaviour such as drug abuse, smoking or alcoholism.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted our lives, and, as a result, more children have suffered trauma than usual. How children coped during the COVID abnormality was given little attention- being segregated from friends; not having the regularity of their school day; learning about COVID and restrictions, and the economic pressure faced by their families were a lot for them to process.

Many children went for long periods without applying themselves to meaningful challenges (such as using their brains for academics, sports or achievements). Some youngsters still struggle to find their feet in this post-pandemic uncertainty, and others who suffer mentally have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – constantly reliving traumatic events. There are cases where children are overwhelmed to the point where they self-mutilate.

The good news is that we can help children regardless of their frame of mind; we can even reverse toxic stress before it becomes traumatic – but firstly, we must acknowledge where the help is needed and the best way to proceed. Here are some tips: Prevent or reduce exposing children to adverse situations. Offer children support and attention, at their pace, in the way they require, and do not overpower them with advice or expectations.

Be receptive if children need to talk or find someone they trust in whom they can confide. Take them outdoors for sport or activity, or just for a brisk walk to exercise. If you are worried about a child’s physical or mental health, seek professional medical advice without delay.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY,
MINISTRY OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY