English Mental health and gender-based violence English version | Page 144

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Mothers who have been severely traumatised are more likely to show low parental sensitivity and competence , to have problems in bonding , and to structure their relationships with their children inappropriately , for example by being over-involved or emotionally unavailable . Infants in severely traumatised families are also likely to be relatively unresponsive and disengaged from their dyadic relationships . Mothers who have been severely traumatised may additionally find it difficult to sooth and regulate their children ’ s emotions , which may slow their motor-sensory development and cause them to be fussy or have sleep irregularities .
PART III : THEORY
Specific advice to a helper in therapeutic meetings with mother
To avoid harmful consequences for the child ’ s development , it is important to pay close attention to the mother ’ s description of her child . Is she over-involved and overprotective ? Or is she disengaged , distant and withdrawn ? Or does she oscillate between absentmindedness and intrusive interaction ?
Sometimes children can act as triggers , even when they have not been born as a result of rape . Bodily intimacy , body smells , crying or screaming , anger and other strong emotions can remind the mother of her violent experiences . Mothers must be helped to identify such triggers and learn to separate them from trauma memories . They also need to be helped to read their children ’ s expressions without self-blame or guilt and without communicating to their child scared or scaring emotional reactions that were generated by another relationship .
Special interventions can support a child or group of children , or mothers , if a child is seen to be severely affected by his or her mother ’ s trauma , has severe problems in regulating his or her stress and emotions , or has clinging or disorganised forms of dyadic attachment .