The signs of trauma in 2 year old's are sudden changes in behavior like intense separation anxiety, regression in potty training, extreme clinginess, or changes in speech and sleep disturbances such as nightmares.
Other common indicators of trauma in 2 year old's are new and intense fears, changes in appetite, increased aggression or irritability and repetitive play which re-enacts the event that is upsetting to the 2 year old.
Excessive fear, being jumpy or more alert, hypervigilant, increased sadness, frequent mood swings, difficulty verbalizing and struggle to control their emotions are also signs of trauma in a 2 year old.
The key emotional and behavioral signs of trauma in 2 year old's include.
Emotional numbing like frozen watchfulness or seeming withdrawn, dazed or disengaged.
Traumatic play like repetitively acting out the scary event through play.
Aggression and impulsivity like increased biting, hitting or increased tantrums.
Clinginess and fear like excessive crying, panic when separated from parents or caregivers and a fear of strangers.
And reverting to earlier behaviors like thumb sucking, baby talk, bed wetting, pants wetting etc.
Some physical signs and biological signs of trauma in 2 year old's include.
Startle response like becoming easily frightened or jumpy.
Appetite changes like a sudden loss of appetite or overeating.
Somatic complaints like unexplained stomachaches, headaches or even a general physical pain.
Sleep issues like insomnia, fear of sleeping alone and even nightmares.
Trauma in toddlers including 2 year old's often appear as a total loss of interest in play or a shift from a happy child to one that is very difficult to soothe.
A toddler that has trauma may also show generalized fearfulness and fear things that they never did before.