How Does Childhood Trauma Affect Today’s Adults?

When we think of childhood, we imagine that time in our life when we should feel safe, protected, and loved, no matter what happens around us. Unfortunately, the reality is that many children go through traumatic experiences, which profoundly influence their mental, emotional and physical development, but also how they form relationships with those around them.

Sources of childhood trauma are associated with abuse, neglect, or abuse. Depending on the nature of the traumatic events, but also on the support received from those around you or specialists, they can be overcome. In this way, adults who went through painful situations in childhood can have normal lives and can form healthy relationships with those around them.

"Studies show that the person's psychological flexibility, social and/or family support, decreased avoidant behavior and positive personality traits such as curiosity, openness, sociability are protective factors about the symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress that the individual may feel. as a result of trauma. Here we refer to individuals with repeated traumas in childhood, but with less impact in their childhood. People with high-impact trauma have less mental flexibility. "

What forms can childhood trauma take?

The education we receive and the experiences we have gained throughout our lives help us to analyze and understand our role/position in the events we are going through. Unlike adults, children have limited life experience and tend to believe that they are the cause of the traumatic events they go through.

Childhood trauma can take the form of:

• physical or sexual abuse;

• participation in traumatic events (for example, a car accident);

• serious illness and extended periods of hospitalization;

• domestic violence (against children or other family members);

• bullying.

However, the trauma can also be subtle. An event, a situation, a word, moments that seem unimportant, but that can impact the child's unconscious and can manifest in various emotionally debilitating forms for the future adult. Ultimately, the concept of trauma is perceived differently by each individual, depending on their life experience and the emotional and psychological filter through which they looked.

Factors that may increase the likelihood of an unpleasant or traumatic event in childhood can cause difficulties in adult life include:

The traumas experienced and their effects are unique to each child, even for those who have gone through the same experiences. Factors that may increase the chances of a childhood adverse event creating difficulties in adult life include:

Age

Trauma can leave emotional scars and can occur at any age, but children under the age of 8 who go through such a situation are particularly vulnerable.

Trauma level

Not everyone experiences trauma in the same way. Some children may recover from major stressors, while others are more affected by things that seem less severe on the surface. In general, the more extreme the trauma, the greater the risk of lasting emotional problems.

Duration of traumatic events

Chronic or repeated exposure to adverse events increases the risk of long-term problems. Children who witness repeated violence or are abused after it are more likely to have long-term problems than those who experience a unique event, such as a car accident.

Recognition of signs of trauma in children

For the little ones, even for the adults sometimes, it is difficult to explain in words what they went through and how they were affected. In the case of children, one way to identify signs of an adverse event is to monitor behavior.

Behavioral changes that may occur include:

• excessive eating or loss of appetite;

• sleep problems;

• stagnation or regression in certain abilities;

• irritability;

• separation anxiety, especially in young children.

The effects of childhood trauma on health

Childhood events can leave deep emotional traces that can be observed throughout life. Children with traumatic events are more likely to develop health problems, including:

• anxiety;

• depression;

• post-traumatic stress disorder;

• self-harm behaviors;

• addiction to alcohol, dangerous behaviors, or drugs.

What do the personal relationships of adults with childhood trauma look like?

In the absence of specialized help, childhood trauma can have a major impact on both personal beliefs and personal relationships in adulthood. Adults who have gone through traumatic events may not deserve the affection and support of others. Such an attitude, even unconscious, affects the relationships that these people build with those around them.

In addition, these people may feel that they do not live up to expectations, which leads to a lack of ambition. Over time, these feelings can lead to the isolation of adults who have suffered trauma early in life and exacerbate the problems they face.

The risk of depression in adults with childhood trauma

Adults who have been exposed to childhood trauma are considerably more prone to depression. Depression affects the way individuals look at themselves, others, and the world around them. This mental disorder can also lead to emotional and even physical problems.

Symptoms and manifestations that we need to pay attention to in case of depression include:

• sadness;

• difficulty concentrating;

• exacerbated states of fear, guilt, or worry;

• sudden/frequent mood swings;

• difficulties in relating to family or friends;

• excessive consumption of alcohol or hazardous substances;

• insomnia;

• chronic stress;

• hostility or even violence towards others;

• thoughts of suicide or self-harm.

How do we overcome childhood trauma?

The problems we went through as children are a sensitive subject, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't talk about them and ask for help from others to overcome them. As we grow and understand the world around us, we can conclude that we can improve our relationship with ourselves and others.

Overcoming childhood trauma can be a complex process, but one that we must not go through alone. Specialists recommend:

The help of a therapist

Therapists can be with adults who want to understand and overcome childhood traumas. The expertise of psychologists and psychiatrists allows them to understand the particularities of each trauma and to adapt the therapies and treatments offered according to the needs of each patient.

Learning lessons from the past

Once we reach maturity, we can recognize toxic and abusive behaviors so that we can avoid them when they occur in our lives or our loved ones. Also, the traumas we went through allow us to make better decisions in our relationships with those around us.

Hobbies

The practice of hobbies allows adults to evolve as individuals and to build a sense of contentment towards themselves. It is important for those who have experienced childhood trauma to know that their past experiences should not define them for the rest of their lives.