How Childhood Trauma Affects Adult Lives
Trauma and stress can have a profound effect on anyone, at any age. Constant exposure to high stress situations from an early age can impact how an individual develops, both mentally and physically, for the rest of their life. Whether you’re currently going through something challenging or are simply trying to understand your past emotions better, understanding how childhood trauma affects adult lives can be helpful.
What is Childhood Trauma?
Childhood trauma is any stressful or traumatic event that occurs during childhood. These events can range from neglect and abuse to natural disasters, death of a loved one, divorce, and much more. While some childhood trauma is unavoidable, most can be prevented. Throughout childhood, the brain is still very much in development. This means that childhood trauma can have a lasting impact on a person’s mental health and coping abilities.
How Trauma Affects the Brain
Childhood trauma can impact brain development in a number of ways, including: Hormonal changes, Causing DNA mutations, Interfering with neurotransmitter production and Damaging the DNA. These changes in brain development can have lasting effects on the adult who experienced them as a child. Individuals who grew up in abusive households, for example, often struggle with regulating their emotions as adults. This is because their brains didn’t fully develop the ability to do so when they were young. If a person experiences trauma as a child and it’s left untreated, it can lead to issues such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders in adulthood.
Discovering New Pathways for Growth and Development
There are ways to overcome and heal from childhood trauma. One way to do so is by practicing mindfulness and meditation. These practices help to unclog the neurons and regulate their firing rate. They can also be used to help people understand their trauma better. Another way to heal from childhood trauma is by seeking out therapy. Therapy can help a person to understand the root cause of their trauma and how it’s affecting them today. It can also help a person to replace unproductive thought and behavior patterns with new and healthier ones.
Childhood trauma can have a profound impact on a person’s mental health and life trajectory as a whole. It can lead to a wide range of issues, from emotional struggles to chronic physical pain. The best way to overcome childhood trauma is to seek professional help. Therapy is an ideal way to understand and process childhood trauma. It can also help a person to replace their negative thoughts and behavioral patterns with healthier ones. Therapy can help a person to let go of their past and become the person they always wanted to be. It’s not an easy process, but it’s worth every second, and it can change your life.
This article is written by a therapist from Sensera – a self-help app that provides daily CBT audio sessions and exercises. The app helps people deal with a variety of mental issues (anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship problems). Download Sensera now to become happier!
