Understanding the Impact of Trauma on a Refugee

War wounds aren’t just physical, and trauma affects non-combatants just as it does for soldiers. Every refugee has fled horrifying circumstances, where they were confronted by war, persecution, imprisonment or even torture. Even the lucky few who were not personally harmed have lost friends, family members and their sense of security.  

Even though refugees are safe in Canada, they may still struggle and be haunted by the memories. Many refugees are affected by mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), survivor’s guilt, nightmares and an inability to concentrate on simple tasks. 

Children and trauma 

Though young children tend to be more resilient, they are still greatly affected. Often, their pain is ignored or dismissed by parents as they may mistakenly believe the child was too young to understand.  

Young children under five may have trouble explaining what happened to them, but it becomes evident when they engage in regressive behaviour. They may start bedwetting, thumb sucking, or forget previously learned words. They may burst into tears, have mood swings, develop new fears, tremble uncontrollably, develop physical symptoms or cling to a parent or guardian.  

Older kids are also just as affected. They may develop similar symptoms, but have the added difficulty of school. If they are between six and 11, they are also more likely to develop PTSD than their younger cohorts as the trauma occurred during an important developmental stage. 

According to this study, there is “now a wealth of evidence showing that traumatic experiences can significantly impact our neurological development, resulting in difficulties in areas such as learning, behaviour, relationship building and emotion regulation, meaning newly arrived refugee students will often arrive at school with some significant challenges.”  

Understanding the impact of trauma on students and parents has tips on tips for educators to help a student dealing with trauma. 

Adolescence and trauma 

Adolescents are at high risk for experiencing traumatic events, as they have developed enough understanding to know what happened. Yet they don’t necessarily have the tools for resiliency. All while assaulted with hoards of hormones that make even the most secure and well-adjusted teen act out. 

In making sense of their pain, traumatized teens may engage in risky behaviours such as drug usage, eating disorders and promiscuity. Because clashing with parents and other authorities is part of this development stage, the extent of their trauma may go ignored or dismissed. So, parents, teachers, community members and friends be aware of the needs of adolescents and respond adequately.  

While they struggle with trauma, they might find themselves in social isolation, declining school performance, behavioural problems, and other issues that can impact both current quality of life and future functioning. They may also push back against any offer of help. 

Adults and trauma 

Adults usually have a full understanding of what has occurred to them and the ability to communicate this pain. However, they may not feel comfortable sharing what happened, or they may not be aware that they have been traumatized, especially if they come from a community where trauma is common. 

They may suffer from hypervigilance, emotional numbing, flashbacks, nightmares, emotional detachment and distorted emotions and perceptions. They may abuse drugs or alcohol and become depressed, anxious, hostile, and suicidal. 

This becomes particularly true if they experience torture or sexual assault. Those who underwent this type of abuse typically suffer from physical pain due to injuries. They also experience prolonged emotional pain that may manifest as physical pain. 

Helping them cope 

Unless you are a professional mental health professional, there isn’t much you can do other than be there and listen non-judgementally. You should encourage them to reach out to a doctor or therapist who can help them better treat their trauma. Do not insist, make an appointment on their behalf or be aggressive. They must regain the control they lost during their trauma. 

Just be kind, realize they may have a few self-soothing quirks or behaviours that you don’t understand, and stay open. Also, make sure to avoid triggering situations while with them. This may mean avoiding certain locations or even movies. 

With time and help, many refugees find themselves on the path to wellness, the war and their suffering only a distant memory. But it is a long process, and they never return them to their pre-conflict state. But as long as you are patient and understanding, you can be there to support a refugee friend, colleague or neighbour with the impact trauma has had on them.