The connection between childhood trauma and

adult mental health.

Childhood trauma victims exhibit low self-esteem, and experience
depression and anxiety. Some deny their trauma history, while
others create a false self-image and engage in alcohol and drug
misuse in attempts to prevent their traumatic experiences from
impacting their life. Early interventions may reduce trauma
symptoms alongside sufficient and customized treatment
strategies.
A new study shows that men and women are affected differently
by childhood trauma: women are more affected by childhood
emotional trauma and sexual abuse, whereas men are more
affected by childhood emotional and physical neglect.

 Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables

people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities,
learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It is
an integral component of health and well-being that underpins
our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build
relationships and shape the world we live in. Mental health is a
basic human right. And it is crucial to personal, community and
socio-economic development.

CAN CHILDHOOD TRAUMA CAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS?

Childhood trauma can cast a long shadow over our mental health,
well into adulthood. This enduring impact is rooted in how
traumatic events in early life create social-cognitive problems later
– essentially, the way we process information about social
interactions can be profoundly affected by our experiences with
trauma. This can manifest as difficulties in emotional regulation
and social functioning.
Several factors may determine how a child reacts. These include:

1. Age: A child’s age at the time of the traumatic event can

significantly influence their reaction. Younger children may
not fully understand the event, which often leads to
confusion and fear. On the other hand, older children might
be more likely to experience feelings of guilt or responsibility.
2. Type: The nature of the traumatic event (e.g., traumatic
event, accident, abuse, neglect) can also impact a child’s
reaction. Certain types of trauma, especially those involving
a personal violation or prolonged exposure, may lead to
more severe or long-lasting effects.
3. Severity and Duration: The severity of the traumatic event
and how long it lasts can influence a child’s response. A
single, brief traumatic event might have different effects
compared to a recurring or prolonged one.
4. Proximity: Children who directly experience or witness a
traumatic event are likely to have a more significant reaction
than those who are more removed from the event.
5. Personality: Just like adults, every child has a unique
personality, which can impact how they respond. Some
children might be naturally more resilient or have better-
coping mechanisms due to their personality traits.
They found that both men and women with a high score for
childhood trauma were significantly more likely to show
psychiatric symptoms as adults. The analysis showed that both
men and women were affected by childhood emotional abuse, but
that this association was around twice as strong in women as in
men.
OVERCOMING MENTAL DISORDERS CAUSED BY
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA
There is hope for those affected by such trauma and conditions,
though. Not all children who experience trauma will develop a
mental illness, and for those who do, recovery is possible with
the right support and professional treatment.
Providing affected people with a safe and nurturing environment
as early as possible, coupled with professional interventions as
needed, can help them process their experiences and develop
healthier coping mechanisms. Combined with the support of a
caring, empathetic community of family and friends, many people
have overcome past events that seemed insurmountable.

Stress Generation
It is really important not to think of brain changes as just
happening inside the child. Mental health vulnerability can also
arise because those same brain changes play out in the real
world affecting a child’s future experience. In particular, their
likelihood of experiencing future stress. While children who have
experienced abuse and neglect have already experienced
significant stress, we are learning that these same children
continue to experience new stressful events more frequently than
their peers. And we know that this happens even into adulthood.
Social Thinning : Another way that we believe mental health
vulnerability is linked to brain changes following abuse and
neglect is through the impact these changes can have on
everyday relationships. We know that supportive relationships are
key to our well-being. They help us regulate our emotions and
think through our everyday worries and problems. Adults also
have an important role to play in creating opportunities for
learning and growth for children.

Studies have shown that abuse and neglect in childhood can lead
to reduced social support over time, even into adulthood.
Conversely, it can lead them to develop relationships that are
harmful and may lead to further experiences of victimisation. This
has been recently been termed social thinning.

 TREATMENT FOR MENTAL ILLNESS CAUSED BY CHILDHOOD

TRAUMA : If you have a child who has suffered a trauma, the best
and most impactful thing you can do is seek professional treatment
as soon as the symptoms of childhood post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) appear. There are two primary approaches to
treating this condition

Conclusion

So, we have seen that changes in the brain following abuse in

neglect can not only affect how a child experiences the world, but
also how the social world around them is shaped over time. This
includes both their experience of new stressful events, as well as
the social network of peers and adults around them & we have to
support them.