Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Childhood Trauma?Signs of Childhood Trauma in Adults
Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
What Is Childhood Trauma?
Signs of Childhood Trauma in Adults
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If you experiencedtrauma as a child, it’s likely that you are or have experienced some amount of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) later in life.
This article explains what trauma is, what childhood abuse may look like, and how childhood trauma impacts adulthood.
If you are a victim of child abuse or know someone who might be, call or text theChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotlineat1-800-422-4453to speak with a professional crisis counselor.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you are a victim of child abuse or know someone who might be, call or text theChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotlineat1-800-422-4453to speak with a professional crisis counselor.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
What Is Unresolved Trauma?
Trauma in childhoodnot only constitutes physical,emotional, or sexual abuse but exposure to traumatic events as well. These traumatic events could be when children witness natural disasters, or even when they witness violence within their communities.
What Determines a Child’s Reaction to Traumatic Events?
Factors that determine a child’s reaction to trauma include:
Signs of PTSD in Children
It’s important to note that many of these symptoms go away with time, however, the risk of PTSD does increase if the child is repeatedly exposed to trauma or has a history of anxiety issues.
While kids may heal, between 3% and 15% of girls and 1% to 6%of boys will developPTSD.In general, if any of the symptoms listed above appear for longer periods of time, it may be time to considerseeking a therapistthat focuses on the treatment of PTSD.
In addition to those symptoms, children who are experiencing PTSD may also exhibithypervigilancein an effort to look for warning signs to prevent future traumas.
Children suffering from PTSD may alsore-experience the traumaoravoid thingsthat may remind them or cause them to remember the trauma.
Online Therapy Services for Kids and Families, Tried and Tested
The effects of childhood trauma can last well into adulthood. Trauma can impact future relationships and lead to other issues like depression and low self-esteem.
Childhood Abuse May Impact Adult Relationships
Experiencing trauma in childhood can impact the way that you form attachments in romantic relationships.
One studyasked 911 students (492 female and 419 male) about their experiences with trauma as children.
The students that were surveyed that experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse were more likely to exhibitattachment stylesthat were fearful, preoccupied, and dismissive. It also found that students that did not experience childhood trauma were much more likely to have secure attachment styles into adulthood.
Here’s a look at the four attachment styles:
Other Signs of Childhood Trauma in Adults
Exposure to traumatic events can also causepoor self-esteem,depression,self-destructive behavior, and evendifficulty trusting others. This can become especially problematic with age, as PTSD and traumatic events from childhood can actually result in adverse health effects in adulthood.
According to a Cleveland Clinic podcast,adults who experienced trauma as kids are much more susceptible todepressionand mood disorders, as well as thoughts of suicide. They are also likely to abuse alcohol and other substances. Finally, they are more prone to developing chronic illnesses, like diabetes and heart disease, later in life.
The higher likelihood of developing chronic illness is potentially due to the fact that adults whoexperienced traumaas children are more likely to engage in high-risk activities like smoking.
This podcast also explained that doctors are researching the possibility that understanding someone’s past and their relation to trauma can lead to better treatment that could help in the prevention of these diseases and symptoms. It’s even possible that these traumas impacted the brain in a specific way.
Recognizing how the brain has been impacted could lead to advancements in treatment when it comes totherapyand medical intervention.
The Best Online Trauma Therapy, Tried and Tested
A Word From Verywell
You are never too old or too far removed to seek help for something that happened when you were a child. Know that you can always start working on yourself and seek help from a therapist. Know that your thoughts and feelings about things that happened to you years ago are just as valid now as they were then, and it is OK if it has taken you a while to get to a point where you are ready to work on it. No matter when you experienced abuse in your life, it is never too late toseek help from a professional.
Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.
Get Help Now
We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.
Healing From Childhood Abuse With Former NFL Player Reggie Walker
6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Children and Trauma. 2011.U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.How Common is PTSD in Children and Teens?.Erozkan, A. (2016).The Link between Types of Attachment and Childhood Trauma.Universal Journal of Educational Research,4(5), 1071–1079.Finzi, R., Cohen, O., Sapir, Y.et al.Attachment Styles in Maltreated Children: A Comparative Study.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev31, 113–128 (2000).Gilbert LK, Breiding MJ, Merrick MT, et al.Childhood adversity and adult chronic disease: An update from ten states and the District of Columbia, 2010.Am J Prev Med. 2015;48(3):345-349.Stevens, DO, PhD, G., & Falcone, MD, T. (n.d.).Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/neuro-pathways/effect-of-adverse-childhood-experiences
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Children and Trauma. 2011.U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.How Common is PTSD in Children and Teens?.Erozkan, A. (2016).The Link between Types of Attachment and Childhood Trauma.Universal Journal of Educational Research,4(5), 1071–1079.Finzi, R., Cohen, O., Sapir, Y.et al.Attachment Styles in Maltreated Children: A Comparative Study.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev31, 113–128 (2000).Gilbert LK, Breiding MJ, Merrick MT, et al.Childhood adversity and adult chronic disease: An update from ten states and the District of Columbia, 2010.Am J Prev Med. 2015;48(3):345-349.Stevens, DO, PhD, G., & Falcone, MD, T. (n.d.).Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/neuro-pathways/effect-of-adverse-childhood-experiences
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association.Children and Trauma. 2011.U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.How Common is PTSD in Children and Teens?.Erozkan, A. (2016).The Link between Types of Attachment and Childhood Trauma.Universal Journal of Educational Research,4(5), 1071–1079.Finzi, R., Cohen, O., Sapir, Y.et al.Attachment Styles in Maltreated Children: A Comparative Study.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev31, 113–128 (2000).Gilbert LK, Breiding MJ, Merrick MT, et al.Childhood adversity and adult chronic disease: An update from ten states and the District of Columbia, 2010.Am J Prev Med. 2015;48(3):345-349.Stevens, DO, PhD, G., & Falcone, MD, T. (n.d.).Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/neuro-pathways/effect-of-adverse-childhood-experiences
American Psychological Association.Children and Trauma. 2011.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.How Common is PTSD in Children and Teens?.
Erozkan, A. (2016).The Link between Types of Attachment and Childhood Trauma.Universal Journal of Educational Research,4(5), 1071–1079.
Finzi, R., Cohen, O., Sapir, Y.et al.Attachment Styles in Maltreated Children: A Comparative Study.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev31, 113–128 (2000).
Gilbert LK, Breiding MJ, Merrick MT, et al.Childhood adversity and adult chronic disease: An update from ten states and the District of Columbia, 2010.Am J Prev Med. 2015;48(3):345-349.
Stevens, DO, PhD, G., & Falcone, MD, T. (n.d.).Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/neuro-pathways/effect-of-adverse-childhood-experiences
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