6 Lifelong Effects of Childhood Trauma

By Victoria VanTol

As adults, we hope to help our children become the healthiest adults they can be.  We like to think that children are resilient, and they can be—but often in the case of trauma, while the effects are not obvious, they may be more latent.

They can be mistaken for other conditions, and when they are, we end up treating the wrong condition, wasting time and resources. We also miss out on the chance to truly heal.

Trauma is defined as “a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury.”

In the case of children, trauma can be physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; neglect; witnessing domestic violence; witnessing a natural disaster; or losing a parent, to name a few.

Trauma is incredibly prevalent—one in four children experiences at least one traumatic event before the age of sixteen.

Listed below are six of the most common ways childhood trauma presents itself.

1) Substance Abuse

Using substances is often the easiest, most readily available way for children and adolescents to cope with stress.

Alcohol and drugs dull the effects of trauma, if only temporarily. If they do not learn healthier coping strategies, this substance use can eventually turn into dependence, and become a lifelong consequence of not receiving appropriate help.

2) Inattention/Hyperactivity

Symptoms of childhood trauma greatly overlap with those of ADD/ADHD.

These children can be prone to hyperarousal—a state of heightened anxiety that presents as fidgety, restless, distracted behavior. They may also experience flashbacks, which result in inattention or confused behavior.

Understandably, an adult without knowledge of a young person’s background might view these behaviors as the hyperactivity and impulsiveness of ADHD, and respond accordingly.

The problem is that the prescribed treatment will have limited, if any, effectiveness, and the underlying issues go undetected.

3) Difficulty Sustaining Relationships

This can be true for any type of relationship, but especially romantic ones.

The problem lies in attachment—if a child was unable to form a strong, healthy attachment to a caregiver, he or she is less able to form trusting bonds as an adult.

They may also have difficulty managing their emotions, since this was not adequately modeled for them.

4) Depression & Anxiety

Among the most prevalent disorders resulting from experiencing trauma are depression and anxiety. As with ADHD, many of the symptoms overlap—difficulty sleeping, jumpiness, racing thoughts and heartbeat, and increased isolation are all associated with trauma as well.

While treatments for anxiety and depression are likely to still be effective, it is important to work through the trauma as a root cause.

5) Physical Health Problems

High levels of stress are not healthy for any of us, but constant high levels of stress can be devastating for young children whose nervous systems are still developing.

The stress hormone cortisol adversely affects the immune system, making it harder for the body to heal itself. 

Sometimes, adverse effects can be observed as early as young adulthood; other times, they may not be present until later in life.

High blood pressure, heart disease, and chronic pain are medical conditions associated with childhood trauma.

6) Increased Resilience

Survivors of trauma may find themselves better able to cope with adversity later in life.

Studies have even shown that not only do survivors fare better against stress—their children may fare better and show increased resilience as well! 

 Although studies are still being done to determine exactly how this works, it indicates there is a genetic component to resilience, which can be passed down through generations.

Do any of these ring true for you, someone you love, or someone who is your client?  If so, consider consulting a therapist, psychologist, or other helping professional so that he/she may be able to process through the trauma.

It is never too late to begin the healing process.

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Author Bio

Victoria VanTol is a freelance writer with Masters in Social Work and English

The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect all or some of our beliefs and policy.  Any links on this page does not necessarily mean they have been endorsed by Defying Mental Illness.

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