Blog Post #5- Childhood trauma and mental health

Hello everyone! My inquiry question this semester is “how does childhood trauma impact child/adult development?” Today I will be focusing on  how childhood trauma can impact the mental health of children, and also teenagers. 

General effects:

Childhood trauma can have a significant impact on mental health, both in childhood and later in life. Trauma can alter the way a child perceives the world and themselves, leading to negative beliefs about themselves, others, and their future (1). Children who have experienced trauma may experience intense and overwhelming emotions such as fear, anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, and shame. These emotions can be difficult to regulate and may persist into adulthood (1). When mental health problems remain untreated, individuals are at a greater risk for illness, less inclined to adopt healthy habits like regular medical checkups and a nutritious diet, and more prone to resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drinking and smoking (3). Many children experience some form of a traumatic event during their childhood, and while such events typically cause temporary distress, some children can recover quickly and return to their “normal” lives. However, in severe cases, a traumatic event may result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (2).  The National Center for PTSD reports that approximately 15% of girls and 6% of boys develop PTSD after being exposed to a traumatic event (4).

Teenagers, CSA, and PTSD

Some ways childhood trauma impacts teenagers are through intense feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, and guilt, reacting excessively to minor annoyances, constantly thinking about the traumatic event, and disrupted sleep patterns and insomnia (5). Some more effects are teenagers isolating themselves from family and friends, becoming overprotective of their loved ones, reverting back to childlike behaviours, an increased desire for independence, and a lack of interest in things like school, friendships, hobbies, and life in general (5). Children who have experienced child sexual abuse (CSA) experience emotional dysregulation and are more likely to be diagnosed with multiple behavior problems than a child who has not experienced CSA. This can also include bullying other children, or self-harming behaviors (6). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children who experience trauma during their early childhood may be vulnerable to improper development, and have a heightened likelihood of severe and persistent mental health difficulties, including complex PTSD, extending into adulthood (7). Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD) is developed when someone experiences long-lasting trauma for months or years, whereas PTSD can result from just one single traumatic event. C-PTSD symptoms are more intricate and may require more time to treat (8).

Healing and Therapy

With all the previous points being said, thankfully things like therapy can help to treat and make the mental health impacts of trauma less overwhelming, and eventually something that can be healed. One type of therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a type of therapy aimed at helping people identify and modify negative thought patterns that contribute to their emotional distress (9). Another type of therapy is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). This is an approach for managing the distress caused by past trauma, and it involves focusing on eye movements while discussing traumatic experiences. The aim is to alter their perception of the trauma (9). Another type of therapy is Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). This is where a therapist assists an individual in recounting their life story. This approach can aid them in constructing a comprehensive narrative of their trauma, resulting in a sense of increased agency (9). Many people also use art therapy where they express their feelings through paintings, music, writing, and more. Overall, trauma is something that never fully goes away, but there are many steps that can be taken to reach a state of healing, and finding ways to cope with the mental health impacts in a healthy way.

References:

1. Peterson, S. (2018, June 11). Effects. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Retrieved from https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/complex-trauma/effects#:~:text=Children%20who%20have%20experienced%20complex,depression%2C%20anxiety%2C%20or%20anger.  
2. Duquesne University. (2021, January 4). Childhood trauma: How trauma impacts mental health: Duquesne University. Duquesne University School of Nursing. Retrieved from https://onlinenursing.duq.edu/blog/childhood-trauma/  
3. Fenneld. (2023, January 17). The lasting effects of childhood trauma. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/childhood-traumas-lasting-effects-on-mental-and-physical-health/  
4. Hamblen, J. (2018, August 23). VA.gov: Veterans Affairs. PTSD in Children and Adolescents. Retrieved from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/specific/ptsd_child_teens.asp  
5. Department of Health & Human Services. (2018, October 1). Trauma and teenagers – common reactions. Better Health Channel. Retrieved from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/trauma-and-teenagers-common-reactions  
6. Hébert, M. (2017, August 18). Cumulative childhood trauma, emotion regulation, dissociation, and behavior problems in school-aged sexual abuse victims. Journal of Affective Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032717303154  
7. Priory. (2023). Complex PTSD childhood trauma in adults. Priory Group. Retrieved from https://www.priorygroup.com/blog/complex-ptsd-childhood-trauma-in-adults  
8. Grande, D. (2022, March 21). C-PTSD VS PTSD: Understanding the differences. Choosing Therapy. Retrieved from https://www.choosingtherapy.com/cptsd-vs-ptsd/#:~:text=C%2DPTSD%20is%20caused%20by,can%20support%20and%20guide%20you.  
9. Better Help. (2023). Recovering from childhood trauma. BetterHelp. Retrieved from https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/trauma/what-to-do-when-childhood-trauma-holds-you-back/  

Thank you for reading!