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• Sexual abuse or physical abuse – statistics have shown that these most commonly come at the hands of a family member. • Surviving a disaster – such as earthquake, flood, tornado or manmade calamities such as war or slavery • Witnessing a serious crime – including murder and other violent crimes • Incest • House fire • Spousal abuse between parents – witnessing parents engaged in physical violence can be as traumatic as being abused • Hostage situation • Rape The effects of childhood trauma Any of the aforementioned events can have long-lasting effects upon the individual. Childhood trauma can stunt proper development when a child is young, which can lead to any number of adult problems, including mental illness, feelings of anxiety, and drug or alcohol addiction. Some studies have even gone so far as to suggest a link between childhood trauma and physical disorders in adults. A recent study at Columbia University found that those individuals who had been sexually or physically abused as a child were more likely to have certain physical illnesses as adults, including: lung disease, heart disease, cardiac arrest and arthritis. Getting help for those who experienced childhood trauma The individual who has experienced any of the events above may still be dealing with the pain it caused. The inability to move past the event, even in adulthood, keeps individuals from enjoying a healthy and productive life, and may be the root cause of mental and physical illnesses. It is therefore imperative, that those who are living wound get proper professional help – so that they can heal properly. |