Trigger Stop 1.3.6

When a young child experiences a triggering event, whether due to trauma or an emotional response, it can lead to a loss of regulation and the display of challenging behaviors. Adults can assist children in articulating the physical sensations they are feeling (such as "I have butterflies in my stomach") and the emotions they are experiencing (like "I feel scared") through the use of this application. In cases where a child has difficulty verbalizing their emotions, the app provides visual images to help them express their internal state.

During a trauma trigger, a child may be subconsciously transported back in time, responding to the present moment as if reliving a past dangerous situation. This trigger often manifests itself as Fight, Flight, or Freeze responses. Offering support to the child in regulating their emotions and communication can aid in healing and fostering resilience.

The application facilitates sensory and emotional identification and literacy, enabling children to recognize, understand, and express bodily sensations and emotions in a healthy manner. Children struggling with self-regulation during Fight, Flight, or Freeze responses may find it challenging to articulate their feelings verbally. By using this app's features of visual images, children can communicate their emotions to adults in a non-verbal way.

Examples of Fight, Flight, or Freeze responses include:

• Fight: Hurting others, yelling, screaming, self-harm, property destruction, arguing, tantrums.
• Flight: Hiding, running away, falling asleep abruptly, watching from a distance, covering face or ears, absorbed in thoughts.
• Freeze: Unresponsiveness, spacing out, inability to verbalize thoughts, withdrawal, repetitive behaviors, daydreaming.

• In situations where a child is undergoing Fight-Flight-Freeze due to trauma triggers, they might be encountering a distressing memory from the past triggered by the present moment. Owing to an inability to understand these overwhelming emotions internally, children may exhibit fighting, freezing, or fleeing behaviors outwardly. During such times of trauma triggering events, children often require a sense of safety provided by a caring adult. Through establishing connection with a responsive adult who can introduce and navigate sensations and feelings using the app with young children during triggering events of Fight-Flight-Freeze. Tuning in to a child's needs can aid in reducing arousal levels and supporting sensory regulation. Utilizing this app is beneficial not only for children with trauma histories but also for those who face emotional triggers that result in these responses.