Losing a family member when you are a child; it is like the whole world changes its balance and nothing seems to be fully reliable anymore. You think you have an idea of what loss is, but it deeply hits your little heart. That is the power of childhood loss impact. At Bright Flourishing Health, we encounter such kids who are overwhelmed with confusion, and frankly, it’s quite a mess. Children’s trauma is different and so is their grief, which is not a tidy or predictable matter.
Emotional Turbulence
One day your kids are hilarious and the next day they are angry or sad without any explanation. Some of them stop talking to themselves, while others become more aggressive. The grief might also reveal itself through horrible dreams, clinginess, sudden changes in appetite or school performance.
Sometimes, it can also be childhood PTSD when grief is due to a sudden or violent loss. A traumatic bereavement hardens everything and intensifies emotions. And as a parent or caregiver, it might be a feeling that you are failing, but most of the time, it is just the child’s way of coping with the situation.
Behaviour and Coping
Children may lose development skills, behavioral traits like sucking their thumb, tantrums, or a need for more attention. Or, they may behave as ‘normal’ but internally they suffer from small moments of collapse. This is the children’s grief processing phase. Allow them freedom to do it their own way, through drawing, playing, talking, or even silent moments. They are not perfect, and sometimes it is irritating, but it is how they process emotional trauma of childhood and find their way in loss and grief.
Supporting Them
Grief is not under your control but you can establish stability. Yes, routines are helpful, but so is being flexible. Being there, listening, hugging, and hence, acknowledging the feeling, all these acts are very helpful. Do not insist on having conversations as adults would do; rather come to the child’s level. Bright Flourishing Health helps families to comprehend childhood loss effects and supports them through the traumatic grief of childhood with real-life strategies, not just theoretical ones.
Conclusion
Childhood loss impact is of a great size, untidy, and hard to predict. Some days might appear as if they are impossible, while others are lighter. Being present, patient, and understanding is the key. Kids have the power of recovery and if supported, they will be able to process their grief in a safe way and find stability gradually. Bright Flourishing Health is the companion of families during such times and they come together to support children and caregivers in facing the emotional turmoil.
