| No. |
Grief |
Trauma |
| 1 |
Grief generally does not attack or "disfigure" our identity |
Trauma generally attacks, distorts and "disfigures" our identity |
| 2 |
In grief, guilt says, "I wish I would or would not have..." |
Trauma guilt says, "It was my fault. I could have prevented it. It should have been me." |
| 3 |
In grief, dreams tend to be of the person who died |
In trauma, dreams are about the child himself dying or being hurt |
| 4 |
Generalised reacion...SADNESS |
Generalised reacion...TERROR |
| 5 |
Grief reactions can stand alone |
Trauma reacions generally also include grief reactions |
| 6 |
Grief reactions are generally known to the public and the professional |
Trauma reactions, especially in children, are largely unknown to public and often to professional counselors as well |
| 7 |
In grief, pain is related to the loss |
In trauma, pain is related to the tremendous terror and an overwhelming sense of powerlessness and fear for safety |
| 8 |
In grief, a child's anger is generally not destructive |
In trauma, a child's anger often becomes assaultive (even after nonviolent trauma, fighting often increases) |
