Is Trauma Stored Differently in Gen Z Due to Constant Crisis Exposure?

[Shree]

Many teens have grown up with a steady stream of global emergencies, violence clips and disaster news. Some show hypervigilance, emotional numbness or sudden irritability without a single clear trauma event. Could this be a new form of cumulative trauma? How can adults help teens process stress they’ve absorbed indirectly?

 

[Hazel]

Yes, constant crisis exposure, online and offline, can shape how stress and trauma affect Gen Z. Frequent media consumption, social comparison, and heightened awareness may reinforce threat responses, making emotional overload more common. This doesn’t mean trauma is stored differently biologically, but repeated stress can change coping patterns and emotional regulation, requiring more support and awareness.