Childhood Trauma: It Changed Us, But Hope Remains

By: Heidi L. Fretheim, BA, MACC

From the time of birth, children are measured in several different

categories to ensure that they are developing within a normal range.

There are benchmarks for crawling, walking, making sounds, talking,

potty training, height, weight, and learning just to mention a few.

Parents are bombarded with questions from pediatricians, care givers,

and schools to ensure that a child is not showing any delays in the

developmental process. But what about the child who experienced a

trauma and does this also impact the developmental process?

The National Institute of Mental Health (USA) defines Childhood

Trauma as “The experience of an event by a child that is emotional

painful or distressing, which often results in lasting mental and physical

effects.” Examples of childhood trauma are abuse, neglect, chaos,

witnessing domestic violence, high levels of stress in home or

environment, abandonment, bullying, sudden death of a parent,

serious accidents, serious medical issues, dysfunctional social or family

environments. Children are dependent on their parents or care givers

for survival, safety, and security and when childhood trauma is

experienced it can have lasting effects that can cause negative

consequences in development, social, cognition, and behavioral

components in children.

Childhood trauma affects several parts of the brain reducing the

size and volume of brain and developing less neural pathways in the

brain. This effects learning, memory, emotional regulation, behavior,

mood disorders can develop, and learned behaviors or responses such

as negative coping strategies emerge leading to negative social

relationships and/or substance abuse. Some signs to look for that may

identify a childhood trauma are poor verbal skills, memory problems,

excessive temper, excessive crying, repressive behaviors, trouble

learning or focusing, developing learning disabilities, demand attention

through positive and negative behaviors, verbally abusive, and

stomachaches and headaches.

Experiencing childhood trauma can have severe consequences in

the development of the brain, regulating emotions, navigating social

relationships, dealing with pressures of life well into adulthood, but it

can also help children to become more compassionate and empathetic

individuals willing to face the past to help heal the future. The story

does not have to end with an Adult tied to the trauma of the past

experiencing negative consequences for a lifetime. Instead with the

help of others including therapists we are able to give that trauma a

safe place to be heard, explored, and healed so the light of hope

remains and a bright future is possible for all:

Northwest Behavioral Health Services

2392 N. Edgewood Avenue

Jacksonville, Florida 32254

904-781-7797