It is without a doubt that COVID-19 effects have traumatized most of us. Children are more vulnerable to the most trivial lifestyle or environmental changes. Whereas COVID-19 has altered the daily course of life entirely disturbed. However, children are more prone and emotionally sensitive. The slightest change can leave them grumpy, traumatized, and behavioural problems. Moreover, COVID-19 has impacted our children with immense trauma. Our children require proper attention and healing support to conquer COVID-19 trauma. They are significantly struggling with this sudden change in their social disengagement, etc.
COVID-19 has left us in a challenging emotional turmoil where lifestyle like social distance, home confinement, etc. have been introduced leaving so many questions in our children’s minds. Additionally, to the catastrophic outcomes of COVID-19 on our children’s psychology, the parents and caregivers are also disturbed. They are looking for solutions to heal their children’s trauma caused due to COVID-19. Nevertheless, it has become more difficult to treat trauma in children as they lack a certain level of communication and understanding of environmental consequences. They cannot process their thoughts like adults which creates further emotional complications. COVID-19 Trauma and Creative Art Therapy:For decades, we all know the healing benefits of creative or expressive arts. The healing power of creative arts therapy has been known for its miraculous working to handle trauma. It can even treat trauma like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Creative art therapy encompasses different mediums of communication or expression likewise music, dance, drama, painting, etc. It depends on an individual level in which the medium of creative arts interests them. Few children can easily express their emotional troubles and anxieties through painting for others it is easier through dance or drama. According to a publication regarding creative art therapy and trauma, it is researched that creative art therapy can handle complex trauma and grief provided by COVID-19 although people are doing more research and developing techniques to overcome through this hurdle. Effects of Untreated Trauma: The effects of untreated trauma caused by any disaster whether it is COVID-19 or the death of a loved one on children will be going to have severe results. A child’s self-respect, confidence, and overall physical as well as mental well-being can get damaged for the rest of life. On the other hand, creative art therapy can be provided healing support especially to children who cannot express their thoughts and feelings verbally because of a traumatic event.
Scientifically it is also proven that traumatic memories are activated in the part of the brain called the limbic system which is responsible for the non-verbal area. Thus, it resists the patient to explain the traumatic event and especially in the case of children where language skills and understanding levels are limited and in the developing phase. Why Choosing Creative Art to Treat COVID-19 Trauma in Children? Creative art is a progressive field that can treat mental health issues by using art mediums. As children have limitations in terms of proper communication, lack of understanding, and logical reasoning about the environment thus, the artwork is the proper solution. However, for healing COVID-19 trauma in children creative art therapy is an effective approach focused primarily on creative artwork procedure. It helps to reveal subconscious expression. In creative art therapy, the finished product of artwork is not of importance but the procedure the child goes through making that artwork has the cruciality. How Does Creative Art Help in Healing Children with COVID-19 Trauma? COVID-19 has put a lot of unknown questions in our children’s minds. Moreover, the media is being flooded with panicking news about COVID-19, so it is difficult to handle information. There are things they cannot process like adults likewise why social distancing is important or why staying at home has a crucial significance in the COVID-19 pandemic? Thus, if a child or anyone related has become a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, it worsens the conditions putting more trauma on their little minds.
Art has a mysterious language in which words can easily be placed in an artwork whether it is music, dance, drama, or a painting. This language can speak with our subconscious mind and trauma could be relieved. However, children are best in telling truth. When they are unable to communicate what troubles them, here creative art therapy work wonders. It is fun, productive, and at the same time therapy to heal children from COVID-19 trauma. Conclusion: Children are innocent and emotionally sensitive. Their childhood impacts the rest of their life. Positive childhood: better their adulthood would be and vice versa. As in these difficult times of struggle where the future has its uncertainties, we need to protect and provide moral support to our children for their mental well-being. In COVID-19 what kind of preventive measures are you taking as parents for your child’s trauma healing support? Share your story with us in the comments below.