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KEY DEFINITIONS Acute Trauma: A Single traumatic event that is limited in time. An earthquake, dog bite, or motor vehicle accident are all examples of acute traumas. Chronic Trauma: Chronic trauma may refer to multiple and varied (traumatic) events such as a child who is exposed to domestic violence at home, is involved in a car accident, and then becomes a victim of community violence, or longstanding trauma such as physical abuse of war. Complex Trauma: Complex trauma is a term used by some experts to describe both exposure to chronic trauma—usually caused by adults entrusted with the child’s care, such as parents or caregivers—and the immediate and long-term impact of such exposure on the child. Hypervigilance: Abnormally increased arousal, responsiveness to stimuli, and scanning of the environment for threats. Hypervigilance is a symptom that adults and youth can develop after exposure to dangerous and life-threatening events. The American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic criteria manual identifies it as a symptom related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Resiliency: A pattern of positive adaptation in the context of past or present adversity. Traumatic Reminders: A traumatic reminder is any person, situation, sensation, feeling, or thing that reminds a child of a traumatic event. When faced with these reminders, a child may re-experience the intense and disturbing feelings tied to the original trauma. Note: All definitions taken from "Ten Things Every Juvenile Court Judge Should Know About Trauma and Delinquency" (page 4). |
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