How childhood trauma shapes our adult lives

Our childhood will always be the place with the most profound memories. These memories later shape our entire existence and outcome in life. Growing up we are filled with endless curiosity and excitement, however for some these experiences are not so pleasant, and because one’s brains are still developing, we internalize the feelings and later they form part of our personality subconsciously.

Childhood experiences can be classified into adverse childhood experiences and positive childhood experiences.

We shall delve into the adverse experiences and their effect on our mental well-being.

These experiences are traumatic events that take several forms including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and child neglect in the form of physical and emotional.

They also include dysfunctional family experiences like witnessing parental domestic violence, substance abuse, caregiver violence, community violence, orphaned children, incarcerated parents, and parents with mental or other serious debilitating illnesses.

This situation becomes more worrying for children who have been exposed to more than four of these traumatic events.

Research indicates that boys are more prone to adverse childhood experiences than girls. Boys are more prone to high rates of physical violence from caregivers, and community violence and are more orphaned. While girls are more exposed to sexual violence, and emotional and community violence as well.

At the home or community level, not many people care about shielding children from these adverse occurrences, with many people oblivious to the negative mental and psychosocial implications. later in life.

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Research shows that those with adverse childhood experiences are more likely to suffer from depression.

They are also more likely to suffer from other mental health disorders like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

These cumulative experiences lead to a state of chronic stress and eventually interfere with emotional regulation leading to maladaptive coping mechanisms like substance abuse and self-harming behaviour.

Chronic stress also interferes with normal brain development, in areas responsible for stress management, interfering with healthy stress-coping mechanisms

There are issues with unstable interpersonal relationships occurring from learned behaviour, especially among those exposed to dysfunctional family dynamics.

On the other hand, cultivating an environment of positive childhood experiences through supportive caregiving, a safe home environment, creating a sense of belonging and shielding from physical and community violence can enhance one’s mental wellness and improve overall life satisfaction.

Mitigation strategies include early interventions like building supportive relationships through nurturing relationships between children and caregivers eventually leadlight to emotional and physiological resilience.

Teaching coping skills and emotional regulation at a young age helps children manage stress and navigate challenges more effectively, reducing the long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences. Creating interventions that aim at reducing exposure to toxic stressful events can go a long way in reducing negative physiological and chronic stress.

Parental and caregiver training programs equip them with the skills needed to create a safe home environment that guarantees safety and creates a sense of belonging.

- The writer is a licensed psychologist/psychiatrist clinical officer and lecturer KMTC Meru Campus