When a child goes through a traumatic event — whether it’s a car accident, natural disaster, medical emergency, sudden loss, or exposure to violence — the emotional and psychological impact can be intense.

When we think of trauma responses, most people are familiar with the “fight or flight” response. These are the survival mechanisms our nervous systems activate when we perceive a threat.

We’ve all had moments where our reactions seem disproportionate to what’s happening. Maybe someone raises their voice, and your heart starts pounding.

When we think about chronic pain, we often focus on physical causes: injury, illness, genetics. But what if the root cause isn’t just in the body, but also in the mind?