Early Childhood Trauma: Defining Early Childhood Trauma, Its Effects on Development, and Warning signs
Early Childhood Trauma: Defining Early Childhood Trauma, Its Effects on Development, and Warning Signs
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| “Trauma is personal. It does not disappear if it is not validated. When it is ignored or invalidated the silent screams continue internally heard only by the one held captive. When someone enters the pain and hears the screams, healing can begin.” ― Emerging With Wings: A True Story of Lies, Pain, And The LOVE that Heals |
Key Words: Early Childhood Trauma, Cortisol, Development, Warning Signs
What is Early Childhood Trauma?
Definition: Trauma is considered an event that poses a threat that causes unbearable pain and may leave the individual feeling scared, helpless, and a need to protect themselves. ² ₃
Now that there is an understanding of what early childhood trauma is, the next step is
unpacking what early childhood trauma can do to an individual. According to researchers, trauma has the potential to harm an individual physically, emotionally, and socially. ¹ Its effects can last for long periods of time or even a lifetime. ¹There are many different forms of trauma that can cause harm to an individual and a child in early development. Some examples of childhood trauma that researchers have given are abuse, neglect, severe parental illness, substance abuse, witnessing domestic violence, community violence, and separation from a loved one.²
Self-Reflection Check ✅: Have you ever experienced an event that left you feeling scared and helpless during the ages 0-6?
If yes, you may have experienced early childhood trauma yourself.
How Does Early Childhood Trauma Affect Child Development?
The experiences we have are what mold us into who we are today. Experiences such as early childhood trauma have the potential to have a significant impact in the following forms of development. ¹ ² ₃
Physical Development
Brain Development 🧠
There are different parts of brain development that are affected by early childhood trauma. Some examples given in research of how early childhood trauma affects brain development in a child are that trauma impacts the ability for a child to manage their own behavior, how the brain processes information, creativity, and even the size of the brain. ²
A sign of brain development being affected by early childhood trauma may be academic delays and learning problems. ¹
Trauma increases the cortisol hormone in the brain. ¹ Cortisol is a hormone that creates stress in the body. This will influence how a child handles stressors and adversity because they may experience more stress than normal when dealing with stress in life. ¹
Recommended Video: For more information about how early childhood trauma affects brain development, the following YouTube goes more in depth and how it can affect behavior. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYBUY1kZpf8
Muscular Development 💪
There are muscular responses to trauma that a child may develop when experiencing early childhood trauma. This can affect how a child’s muscles grow and develop over time. ₃
Children experience an increase of heart rate when experiencing early childhood trauma. This can lead to anxiety as well. ¹
Social and Emotional Development
As mentioned previously, children experience higher cortisol levels when experiencing early childhood trauma. ¹
This can lead to poor stress management in a child which is noticeable in their behavior. ¹
An example of noticeable behavior of lack of stress management may be challenging behaviors. Challenging behaviors can range from aggression to caregivers and peers to having an extreme emotional response to something that an average child would not. ¹
Self-Reflection Check ✅: Have you experienced during early childhood: Learning difficulties or continuous stress and anxiety?
If yes, you may have experienced early childhood trauma.
Brain Development 🧠
There are different parts of brain development that are affected by early childhood trauma. Some examples given in research of how early childhood trauma affects brain development in a child are that trauma impacts the ability for a child to manage their own behavior, how the brain processes information, creativity, and even the size of the brain. ²
A sign of brain development being affected by early childhood trauma may be academic delays and learning problems. ¹
Trauma increases the cortisol hormone in the brain. ¹ Cortisol is a hormone that creates stress in the body. This will influence how a child handles stressors and adversity because they may experience more stress than normal when dealing with stress in life. ¹
Muscular Development 💪
There are muscular responses to trauma that a child may develop when experiencing early childhood trauma. This can affect how a child’s muscles grow and develop over time. ₃
Children experience an increase of heart rate when experiencing early childhood trauma. This can lead to anxiety as well. ¹
Social and Emotional Development
As mentioned previously, children experience higher cortisol levels when experiencing early childhood trauma. ¹
This can lead to poor stress management in a child which is noticeable in their behavior. ¹
An example of noticeable behavior of lack of stress management may be challenging behaviors. Challenging behaviors can range from aggression to caregivers and peers to having an extreme emotional response to something that an average child would not. ¹
Warning Signs in Children Who May Have Experienced Childhood Trauma ⚠
There are different signs that are visible and invisible that a child is experiencing early childhood trauma. It is important as a responsible caretaker, parent, and peer to be knowledgeable of these warning signs in order to direct the child to resources they need in order to still be able to achieve their developmental milestones and have a stable physical and emotional well-being. The following examples given are internal and external warning signs or symptoms of trauma.
Internal Warning Signs
Internal warning signs are what a child may be experiencing themselves. These warning signs may not be as noticeable from an outsider’s perspective. However, a child may voice these warning signs as a way of asking for help.
Low self-esteem and self blame ²
Feelings of Disassociation: the feeling of lack of feeling of being real. ₃
Identity issues: a child may experience a lack of sense of self they may feel as if they are simply existing. ₃
External Warning Signs
External warning signs are more visible when observing a child. These warning signs may have an impact on peers and caregivers as well.
Difficulty coping with stress which may lead to overreactions to a stressor such as throwing tantrums to minor stressors or running away from stressful events. ¹
Self-isolation and withdrawing from caregivers and peers. ¹ ₃
Defensive Muscular reactions such as flinching. ₃
Sources:
2. Bartlett, J. D., & Smith, S. (2019). The role of early care and education in addressing early childhood trauma. American Journal of Community Psychology, 64(3/4), 359–372. https://doi-org.proxy.li.suu.edu:2443/10.1002/ajcp.12380
3. May, K. (2018). Collaborating With the Fortress Around Early Childhood Trauma: A Depth Psychotherapy Process. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 54(1), 39–45. https://doi-org.proxy.li.suu.edu:2443/10.1111/ppc.12198
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