Adults who have experienced childhood trauma while growing up are more likely to experience physical health, mental health and relationship issues. In this blog article we shall explore what is childhood trauma and its impact on adults. Along with how to heal from childhood trauma.
What Is Childhood Trauma?
Childhood trauma occurs when a child goes through a traumatic event. The National Institute of Mental Health, defines childhood trauma as “the experience of an event by a child that is emotionally painful or distressful, which often results in lasting mental and physical effects”. If the traumatic experience is left untreated by the parents or the child’s caregivers. The negative experience of the event can leave a lasting impact on the psyche of the child.
A traumatic event is a frightening, dangerous, or violent event that poses a threat to a child’s mental, emotional wellbeing. Witnessing a traumatic event happening to a loved one, a parent or pet can also be traumatic to the child. These events can happen in isolation or they can be reoccurring over a period of time.
Impact Of Childhood Trauma On Adults
Traumatic events are severe on children because they lack the emotional maturity and skills to deal with traumatic events. Children need a safe and nurturing environment to grow and learn.
Physical Impact of Childhood Trauma
When children are exposed to trauma at a young age, they can develop faulty coping mechanism which negatively impacts their daily lives and hinders them from being functional adults.
For example, children who are sexually abused may turn to food as a coping mechanism. As adults, they are more likely to develop unhealthy relationship with food because as children they used eating as a way to cope with their feelings and the extra weight helped them discourage unwanted physical attention. As adults they may struggle with lifelong weight issues which may be hard for them to resolve since their roots are psychological and not merely an overeating problem.
Mental Impact of Childhood Trauma
The stress experienced by childhood trauma can lead to changes in the child’s brain chemistry. Mental health disorders in adults such as clinical depression, bipolar disorder, borderline disorder and schizophrenia are strongly correlated with childhood trauma.
Emotional Impact of Childhood Trauma
Adults who have experienced childhood trauma and family dysfunction growing up have poor relationship skills and are often repeating the cycles of toxic relationships in their own lives. A child’s first role models are their parents. If the child sees their parents and care givers in unhealthy relationship patterns, they are more likely to mimic what they have seen growing up in their family.
For example, if a child witnesses a parent being physically and verbally abused by the other parent. If this incident occurs frequently, it could be a reoccurring traumatic event for the child. Exposure to violence at a young age, the child begins to internalise the abuse as their fault. Making them feel emotionally and physically unsafe. As a way to cope such children are hypervigilant of their environment and changing moods of their parents. As adults they are more likely to develop anxiety disorders, people pleasing tendencies and have trouble creating an emotional bond with their partner in a romantic relationship.
Children who have witnessed or experienced physical and emotional abuse are also more likely to become abusive themselves as adults because they lack an understanding of healthy relationships skills and coping mechanisms from relationship conflicts.
As adults they may feel that they can never make the right choices in finding a healthy partner and fostering an emotionally safe relationship. Finding themselves stuck in unconsciously repeating toxic relationships patterns that they have witnessed their parents engage in.
Individual therapy, and couples counselling can significantly help you understand your relationship patterns, issues and how to resolve them. Reach out to Serene Hour for individual therapy and couples therapy.
Healing from Childhood Trauma
Research has shown that the human brain is plastic and malleable. Childhood trauma does impact the growing brain of the child, rewiring neurons and creating chemical imbalances due to emotional stress experienced by the child. However, there is hope and an adult you can heal from childhood trauma and live a happy fulfilling life.
Firstly, awareness and acceptance of childhood trauma. You cannot heal what you do not acknowledge or want to feel. Many adults who have experienced childhood trauma believe they had a normal childhood and the traumatic events they experienced are not a big deal. Processing your emotions and understanding your trauma are the first steps towards healing childhood trauma.
Secondly, seek professional support through therapy/ counselling. At Serene Hour we are trauma informed and use trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques and dialectical behavior therapy. This helps change how a person understands their thoughts, abilities, and behaviours and develop healthy ways to cope with the lasting effects of traumatic events.
FAQ about What are the impacts of childhood trauma on adults?
Types of Childhood Trauma?
Sexual Abuse: is any interaction between a child and an adult (or another minor) in which the child is used for the sexual acts or stimulations against their consent and their bodily integrity and dignity is compromised.
Physical Abuse: When a child is subjected to harsh physical discipline. It impacts their sense of safety and wellbeing. Sometimes the corporal punishments can be life threatening to the child. This includes witnessing domestic violence at home.
Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse is a type of trauma that involves non-physical forms of aggression towards the child. For example, when an adult humiliates a child and calls them names.
Neglect: Neglect is a form of abuse involving intentional or unintentional deprivation of basic needs. For example, a sick child is not taken to the doctor on time.
Is It Possible to Heal from Childhood Trauma?
Yes, it is possible to heal from childhood trauma and begin afresh. The first step towards healing is to acknowledge and accept the childhood trauma that has occurred.
Seeking professional support through therapy. A therapist with their understanding of trauma can help you in your healing journey with coping techniques and perspective.
Signs of Childhood Trauma in Adulthood
A common sign of childhood trauma in adults is experiencing difficulty in forming and maintaining healthy platonic or romantic relationships with other people. Another sign of childhood trauma is the inability to cope with life’s daily stressors as an adult. Along with reoccurring physical ailments that cannot be explained.
Concluding Thoughts
In conclusion, adults who have experienced childhood trauma are at a higher risk of developing physical and mental health issues in adulthood. Additionally, they may also struggle with forming emotional attachments and healthy relationships.
Lastly, if you are an adult who has been through childhood trauma. It is never too late to begin healing your inner child. You deserve to live a happy and healthy life free of trauma. Reach out to Serene Hour for therapy.
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