A sudden traumatic experience in early childhood can create long-term changes in the brain. Recent research suggests that trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse, can affect our bodies and minds in ways we might not have anticipated, and raises the need for PTSD treatment.
Whenever we read or hear about a story involving child abuse, people often feel revulsion and horror at how someone could harm a child. In trying to understand what causes people to harm others, many therapists and mental health professionals often wrestle with the possibility that the perpetrator is a victim, or that a recent victim of abuse is at high risk of becoming a perpetrator. unless you get treatment. Trauma therapists work with people of all ages to resolve how trauma is affecting their lives, including relationship difficulties, drug addiction, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). PTSD is commonly observed and evidenced by a loved one seeing threats where there are none, overreacting to situations, and triggering emotional distress over everyday things.
Research conducted in Switzerland by behavioral geneticists has indicated that early traumatic experiences can actually cause long-term effects on the brain that manifest in aggressive behavior in later life. This is an important finding when one also takes into account how social learning can result in abused children being at risk of being aggressive as they grow older. Research conducted in one study placed rats in stressful and fear-inducing situations during puberty and showed high levels of aggression later in life. The frightened rats used in the study displayed changes in brain activity, hormone levels, and gene expression that are eerily similar to traits seen among troubled and violent people with a history of childhood abuse. Adult rats showed increased aggression towards other rats that were not aggressive, and traumatized rats showed signs of anxiety and depression, such as a lack of interaction with other rats, little interest in food, and being passive and freezing when faced with a challenge. . .
The study shows that childhood trauma can affect the way the brain is wired and how traumatic experiences can cause lasting changes in children’s brains. The human brain works in a way that allows it to be rewired, so that people can adapt and survive threats experienced both in the past and possibly in the future. Unfortunately, it also results in genetic alterations, such as brain function and the risk of certain diseases. Investigating genetic alterations in PTSD cases with a history of child abuse, researchers found that the way the brain works changes and increases the risk of certain diseases. For example, studies show that people with a history of childhood trauma are less responsive to antidepressant medications. Medication alone is not effective in solving the root of the problem, which is the trauma that was experienced. Until you can talk and explore in a safe and supportive way, there are many who may continue to suffer.
Understanding how much of an impact trauma can have on a person’s life raises the question of which treatments are effective in preventing lasting effects. Evidence-based therapy approaches, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), focus on processing trauma memories so that a person does not have to struggle with feelings when the memory is brought up. Another approach widely used by many mental health professionals is TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), which helps children and adolescents overcome beliefs involving blame and blame, while providing a supportive environment for children to talk about their traumatic experience. TF-CBT is also effective in helping (non-abusive) parents cope with their own distress and develop skills to support their child or adolescent. The more people realize how childhood trauma affects brain development and behavior later in life, the more likely they are to seek treatment.
