Childhood trauma refers to severe adverse experiences that affect a child’s physical or emotional well-being. Physical or emotional abuse, neglect, domestic violence, parent alcohol or drug dependence, loss of a parent, or exposure to crime and poverty are some of the types of childhood trauma. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) reports that more than two-thirds of children had experienced one or more traumatic events at age 16. All these experiences, if left untouched, can affect a child’s development and mental health in the long term.
The most widely accepted model for understanding child trauma is probably the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, carried out by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente in the 1990s. The study found that the more negative childhood experiences a child has experienced, the greater his or her risk of a variety of problems later in life — including heart disease, depression, drug abuse, obesity, and even premature death. For example, individuals with four or more ACEs were twice as likely to have heart disease and four times as likely to have depression compared to individuals with no ACEs.
The consequences of traumatic experiences in childhood are biological and psychological. Traumatic experiences will alter the development of the brain and will affect the way a child responds to stress. The amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex—areas important in the control of emotion and memory—will be damaged. This will lead to problems such as anxiety, difficulty in concentration, mood swings, and learning disabilities. Chronic trauma will also disrupt the hormonal and immune system, and children will become susceptible to illnesses. Traumatized children have difficulty forming healthy relationships. They may be untrustworthy or aggressive or withdrawn. They may have difficulty in school academically due to intellectual problems or emotional dysregulation. The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) indicates that traumatized children are three times more likely to be retained a grade and twice as likely to be diagnosed with a behavioral disorder.
Despite dire statistics, healing from childhood trauma is possible. Early intervention and supportive environments can make a big difference. Trauma-informed treatment models—e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Play Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)—have been effective in enabling children and adults to process and recover from traumatic experiences. Schools and communities are starting to implement trauma-informed practices to help make their environments safer, more supportive places for traumatized children.
Parental stability is also crucial during recovery. Children can recover and become resilient if parents are stable, loving, and set boundaries. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is among the therapies that help reinforce parent-child relationships as well as healthy communication and coping strategies.
Overall, childhood trauma is a public health emergency with lasting consequences. But with awareness, proper intervention, and compassionate systems of care, healing can occur. Healing childhood trauma not only allows individuals to thrive, but it also helps to create more resilient, stronger communities.
