What is Childhood Trauma – The Risks, Symptoms and Risk Factors?

What is childhood trauma? Trauma is considered an extreme or terrible experience that leaves indelible scars or consequences on a person’s life.

The word trauma itself pertains to the “unpunished” which implies that the injury has not been punished.

Childhood traumas are generally categorized as negative experiences that happen to children, and this is where a child learns about the world.

However, children can go through a wide variety of traumatic experiences which classified as child abuse, neglect, or parental neglect, any one of these can leave long-lasting scars on a child.

Understanding Childhood Trauma and Abuse

Child abuse is among the most common traumatic events that cause lasting physical and psychological scars. These scars can manifest themselves in different ways, from depression to alcohol addiction and teenage pregnancy.

While in children, school challenges and behavioral issues can also result in trauma. These issues are typically more pronounced in adolescents.

School challenges that come with low self esteem, low motivation, and poor performance often leave a lasting impression on a child that can lead to other behavioral issues.

Pediatric trauma refers to any incident of severe physical or mental health negligence that left an individual with lasting or continuing problems.

Any incident of negligence that affects a child’s development that has lasting impacts can be considered a pediatric trauma.

A recent study revealed that as many as 9% of adolescents globally have experienced some type of trauma.

However, there is a significant difference when it comes to what is considered a traumatic event.

Surprisingly, even common experiences like injury or death at birth can leave behind emotional trauma that manifests itself in different ways.

There are a number of symptoms that come with childhood trauma that a child needs to be assessed for.

These symptoms can include behavioral issues, adjustment problems, emotional expressions, personality disorders, and depression.

It is important to note that child traumatic stress can manifest itself in different ways and can be brought on by various events.

Common symptoms can include the following: nightmares, flashbacks, extreme reactions, excessive sleep disturbances, and physical symptoms.

If you suspect that your child might be experiencing any of these symptoms, they should seek a professional diagnosis to determine the severity of their case.

A traumatic event such as the death of a loved one can leave a child damaged physically and emotionally. Although there is no clear connection between what is known as childhood trauma and adult violence, research has shown that children who experience neglect may be more likely to become violent adults.

Research also indicates that those children who endured abuse at a young age are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder as adults as well. However, what is clear is that the impact of a child’s childhood trauma can last a lifetime.

To complicate the picture further, what is childhood trauma also known to be caused by a number of factors. These factors can range from genetics to low self-esteem or a history of abuse.

The most common is the increased risk of developing PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in adulthood. Other symptoms include ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and other co-occurring disorders.

Understanding the role each of these factors plays in what is childhood trauma helps parents and other caregivers deal with the symptoms associated with this condition.

Symptoms of Childhood Trauma in Adults – Is Help Coming For You?

As a child, you are bound to experience some sort of symptoms of childhood trauma.

It is normal for all of us to experience these symptoms, be they negative or positive, and it is also important that we accept these symptoms as a part of growing up. But if the symptoms of traumas persist into adulthood, that is when a person’s mental health truly takes a beating.

Symptoms of childhood trauma in adults can range from depression to post-traumatic stress disorder, to alcoholism, to bipolar disorder, to eating disorders, to anxiety, and much more.

If you or someone you love is suffering from one or more of the symptoms of traumas mentioned above, then you may want to consider seeking help.

In fact, you may want to look into Trauma Consultants. Trauma Consultants offers individuals and families the chance to heal, to get past their past experiences and move forward in a positive manner.

Many of the symptoms of trauma experienced by adults can be dealt with psychotherapy, but many require trauma therapy in order to fully heal.

If your adult symptoms are not quite so extreme as to warrant professional help, there are many things you can do on your own to help yourself.

Remember: everyone has different needs and everyone heals at their own pace. Just remember that there are things you can start doing on your own to make sure that you are healing properly. And just as many people choose to go out and seek professional help for various ailments, many people are starting to turn towards alternative therapies for their emotional and physical problems.

So, whether you are suffering from extreme symptoms of childhood trauma or if you are just feeling out of sorts on your own, it is never too late to seek treatment.

How to Heal From Childhood Trauma

If you have ever suffered from a traumatic experience as a child, you are more than likely interested in learning about how to heal from childhood trauma.

Traumatic events can occur at any age for children and they can create devastating consequences, such as chronic health problems as an adult.

If you or a loved one has experienced a tragic event that occurred while the child was young, you may be interested in learning how to heal from childhood trauma.

Learning how to heal from trauma begins with examining why the event occurred. It may be helpful to look back to when you were a child and try to determine why the trauma occurred.

Was the event really your fault and did you do something to cause it? Did you witness the event or did you only hear about it later on from others?

If you don’t remember a specific event, it may be helpful to take a moment to think about what you were doing at the time of the event and whether you may have prevented the trauma.

If you need help in learning how to heal from childhood trauma, you may be able to get it by contacting a mental health service provider.

Therapy can help you learn coping strategies and how to live with your new situation.

There are also programs available to help children make a personal statement about their lives and how they feel about the events that occurred.

This is a good time for parents to discuss the problem with their child and see if they think the issues can be resolved.

=>Need Mental Health Counseling? Browse Best Psychiatrist Near Me

Married to Someone With Childhood Trauma? Here’s What to Do.

Childhood Trauma and Relationships

Children who experience early childhood trauma are likely to experience ongoing relationship and behavioral problems into adulthood.

The negative learning part of childhood is often the root of many of our problems as adults.

It is important that we do all we can to limit the negative learning and reinforcement from this time on.

If a child experiences trauma in his or her life, it is more than just the product of bad or troubled home life, but a reflection of deeper issues that the child may struggle with throughout life.

If the trauma goes unnoticed and unaddressed, it is unlikely that it will be resolved positively in adulthood.

Children who have experienced a traumatic event in their lives are likely to be maladjusted at a young age, if they are not helped.

They are likely to exhibit dysfunctional behaviors such as withdrawal from peers, severe fear, and severe violence.

If the behaviors do not stop when they are in school, they most likely will continue as adults.

It is important for parents to be sensitive to the behaviors of their child as they get older and begin to display dysfunctional behaviors that could possibly cause serious relationships and even criminal activity.

We are all vulnerable to developing relationships and behavior problems throughout life.

However, children who experience early childhood trauma are at a higher risk of developing a lifelong pattern of relationship and behavioral problems.

It is important for parents and other adults to become aware of these patterns, and work to help the child recover.

There is hope, even if the child has not displayed severe violence, as there are ways to help the child develop healthy coping mechanisms.

If the child can overcome the relationship and behavioral issues related to the trauma, there is a good chance that they can turn their lives around.

Treatment For Childhood Trauma – Getting a Better Life Through Effective Therapy

The symptoms and treatments associated with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are very similar to those suffered by adults who have been through similar experiences.

Adults who have experienced the emotional, physical or sexual abuse that is a part of a child’s life can experience the same feelings as a child who has PTSD.

Many adults who have experienced the emotional, physical or sexual abuse that is part of their childhood may also be suffering from PTSD as an adult.

Those adults who have been victims of violence or those who have gone through war may also be suffering from PTSD as an adult.

Adults who have been suffering from childhood traumas may experience problems in maintaining employment, dealing with issues related to personal relationships, or even suffering bouts of depression.

Those adults who have been PTSD-exposed can also benefit from specialized residential therapy tailored just for childhood traumas.

Residential therapy for adult survivors addresses the issues that can prevent them from re-establishing meaningful connections or living a normal lifestyle.

This type of therapy for adult survivors usually requires at least one month of intensive therapy followed by at least one week of support or relaxation.

There are several treatment options available for adults who have experienced childhood trauma and are struggling with symptoms of PTSD.

Through the use of psychotherapy (find a local therapy here), medication, or a combination of these three treatment options, a person suffering from a childhood illness or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can begin to live a better life.

Life can be difficult for those who suffer from a childhood illness or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder but there are treatment options available that allow these individuals to get on with living better lives.

This type of treatment for childhood trauma can help these individuals live a better life and enjoy a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life.