Episode
Why Traumatized Children Are Often Misunderstood
- Published
- May 22, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1553
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Summary
In this solo episode of Perfect Prey , Dr. Christine Cocchiola explores the connection between coercive control, childhood trauma, attachment, and the growing number of children being diagnosed with ADHD and other behavioral disorders. Dr. Cocchiola challenges listeners to consider a critical question: what if many of the behaviors we label as “problematic” are actually trauma responses? What if children living within coercively controlling family systems are being misunderstood rather than truly seen? Drawing from the work of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Dr. Gabor Maté, Dr. Bruce Perry, and betrayal trauma theory, this episode examines how trauma can manifest as fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses in children — and how coercive control fractures attachment, identity, safety, and regulation. Dr. Cocchiola also discusses how predatory parents weaponize children, how attachment is intentionally disrupted, and why protective parents play such a critical role in healing and rebuilding safety for their children. What we cover This episode is essential listening for protective parents, clinicians, educators, advocates, and anyone trying to better understand trauma, child behavior, and coercive control. How trauma can mimic ADHD symptoms Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn trauma responses in children Coercive control within family systems How predatory parents fracture attachment intentionally Why dysregulated children are often misunderstood Attachment, authenticity, and child development Trauma, dissociation, and emotional regulation The impact of coercive control on school performance and behavior Why children exposed to abuse may appear oppositional or disengaged Protective parenting and reigniting attachment Broken attachment, broken safety, and “broken brain” How systems…