The sympathetic nervous system jumps into action, stimulating the release of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and stress hormones that prepare the body for a fight-flight-or-freeze response. It responds by sending out an alarm to multiple body systems to prepare for defense. Child health experts are increasingly attuned to checking for ACEs it is believed that mitigating or preventing ACEs could prevent many future cases of depression, heart disease, and other common disorders.ĭisturbing events activate the amygdala, a structure in the brain responsible for detecting threats. Research has shown that the more ACEs a person experiences, the greater their risk for future mental and physical health problems. The loss of a parent neglect emotional, physical, or sexual abuse and divorce are among the most common types of adverse childhood experiences. ACEs typically disrupt the nurturing bond between children and caregivers and can negatively affect the normal course of development the emotional injury can last long into adulthood. Over time, such individuals are at risk for compassion fatigue, whereby they avoid investing emotionally in other people in an attempt to protect themselves from experiencing distress.Īdverse Childhood Experiences ( ACEs) cover a wide range of difficult-and potentially traumatic-situations that children under the age of 17 either directly face or witness while growing up before they have developed effective coping skills. Secondary, or vicarious, trauma arises from exposure to other people’s suffering and can strike those in professions that are called on to respond to injury and mayhem, notably physicians, first responders, and law enforcement. Complex trauma experienced in childhood has been associated with the development of borderline personality disorder as well as PTSD. Like other types of trauma, it can undermine a sense of safety in the world and beget hypervigilance, and constant (and exhausting!) monitoring of the environment for the possibility of threat. The sense of being trapped is a feature of the experience. Because of its repeated nature and inescapability, chronic trauma often has serious mental health consequences for individuals.Ĭomplex trauma can arise from experiencing repeated or multiple traumatic events of differing types from which there is no possibility of escape, such as repeated child abuse. It can develop in response to persistent bullying, neglect, abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual), and domestic violence. A car crash, physical or sexual assault, the sudden death of a loved one, or even a medical emergency can create acute trauma.Ĭhronic trauma refers to the harmful effects of events that are repeated or prolonged. The reaction itself is short-term, resolving on its own or with the help of counseling. There are several different types of trauma, with differing consequences for mental health.Īcute trauma reflects intense distress in the immediate aftermath of a one-time event of short duration. It is estimated that only 3 percent to 10 percent of people who undergo a traumatic experience have persistent mental health difficulties known as post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD). Active coping skills and strong social support are important in mitigating symptoms and preventing the longer-term effects of trauma on mental health. However, the effects usually abate over time, and the vast majority of people recover from trauma. Children may suddenly develop behavioral problems and exhibit clinginess. Shock, fear, anger, sadness, difficulty concentrating, and a sense of helplessness are common features of the immediate trauma response. The experience leads to changes in brain function marked by a hypersensitivity to threats.Ĭhildren as well as adults are susceptible to trauma. People typically replay the experience in their mind over and over and continually think about what happened. Parental loss in childhood, motor vehicle accidents, physical violence, sexual assault, military combat experiences, earthquakes, the unexpected loss of a loved one-any sudden, violent disruption-are events that can lead to trauma. Traumatic experiences undermine a person's sense of safety in the world and create a sense that catastrophe could strike at any time. People process experiences differently, and not everyone has the same reaction to any event what one person experiences as trauma may not cause distress for another. The precipitating event may be a one-time occurrence or a series of occurrences perceived as seriously harmful or life-threatening to oneself or loved ones. Psychological trauma is a person’s experience of emotional distress resulting from an event that overwhelms the capacity to emotionally digest it. The word “trauma” literally means wound, shock, or injury.
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