RESOURCES
for Teens to Deal with Trauma
What is the purpose of this book?
This book is meant to provide resources to help those who are struggling to process trauma. Everyone has different experiences, but it is our hope that we can provide some assistance to someone who may want to reach out.
So please, use this book in whatever way that you need, and we hope that we have helped you on your journey of healing.
What is trauma?
Trauma is a response to a distressing event or series of events, which can include but is not limited to, a violent attack, a natural disaster, or ongoing stress, such as abuse, bullying, or living in an unsafe environment. After a traumatic event, a person can display a variety of reactions, and trauma can have an impact on the person’s life and the people around them.
While this can be a stressful time, by talking about the event and finding coping mechanisms, a person can demonstrate resiliance.
www.apa.org/topics/trauma
Ways to Calm Down
Meditation, yoga, and being in nature are some common ways that people deal with stress, but there are also many other ways.
Relieving stress can be as simple as doing something that you enjoy, such as reading or playing a board game. It is important to ground yourself and concentrate on yourself, which will help to process daily stress.
www.headspace.com/meditation/how-to-relax
Breathing Exercises
Breathing is known to help anyone calm down in stressful situations. Using the 3-3-3 technique, breathe in for 3 seconds, hold for 3 seconds, and exhale for 3 seconds.
There are also other variations on timed breathing, like 4-2-6 and 4-7-8. Different times work better for some people than others. Try different breathing strategies to see which ones fit you!
www.calm.com/blog/breathing-exercises-for-anxiety
Books for Those Who Have Experienced Trauma:
Books for Children:
A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret M. Holmes
(the effects of trauma and how to process trauma)
Somebody Cares by Susan F. Straus (a guide for children of neglect)
Healing Days by Susan F. Straus (a guide for children with trauma)
The Day My Daddy Lost His Temper by Carol S. McCleary (an experience of witnessing domestic violence)
The Whatifs by Emily Kilgore (dealing with anxiety)
Books for Teens:
What I Leave Behind by Alison McGhee (learning to cope with past trauma)
The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick (domestic violence and standing up against bullying)
Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee (sexual harassment and standing up for yourself)
Bad Best Friend by Rachel Vail (navigating growing up and new friendships)
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (racial tension and coping with trauma)
Books for Adults:
Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine
(a self-healing guide)
What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey (learning to understand yourself and others)
Getting Past Your Past by Francine Shapiro (overcoming personal barriers)
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk (how trauma affects us and how to deal with trauma)
Helping Children Cope with Separation and Loss by Claudia Jewett Jarratt
(a guide for adults to help children through issues)
If you are having an emergency, please call 988 (for suicide or mental health crisis) or 911.
Younity (Domestic/Sexual Violence)
Counseling: 609-394-2532
Crisis Line: 609-394-9000
NJ Domestic Violence Hotline
800-572-SAFE (7233)
NJ Sexual Assault Hotline
800-601-7200
National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline 866-331-9474
NJ Mental Health Cares Hotline
866-202-HELP (4357)
National Alliance on Mental Illness
HelpLine: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640
The Trevor Project (LGBTQIA+) Contact: 212-695-8650 Get Help: 1-866-488-7386
Remember, the people in your local community, like family members, schools, and more, are also available to talk with you and provide resources.
About This Resource
This booklet was developed as a valuable tool to educate and empower young people on important topics surrounding healthy relationships, consent, and personal safety.
Content created by Kyle Grzymala former Younity Peer Educator and Princeton High School student
Written as part of his summer internship, the content reflects his dedication to raising awareness and fostering meaningful conversations among his peers. Younity is proud to have supported this project by designing and producing this resource to ensure it reaches those who need it most.
Together, we are stronger than abuse.