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Traumatic Grief

While many children adjust well after a death, other children have ongoing difficulties that interfere with everyday life and make it difficult to recall positive memories of their loved ones. A child may have a traumatic reaction after a death that was sudden and unexpected (e.g., through violence or an accident) or a death that was anticipated (e.g., due to illness). If the child’s responses are severe or prolonged and interfere with his or her functioning, the child maybe experiencing Childhood Traumatic Grief.

Effects

Each child grieves the death of a significant person in his or her own way.

Interventions

Childhood Traumatic Grief is a condition in which children develop significant trauma symptoms related to the death of an attachment figure (e.g., parent or sibling) or another important person (e.