The Lasting Impacts of Childhood Trauma
- Science Holic
- Aug 6
- 4 min read
Author: Sophie Jin
Editors: Hwi-On Lee, Simone Maimon, Serena Tsao
Artist: Felicia Chen
What happens to people as children doesn’t always stay in the past. Though childhood trauma may disappear from memory, it can deeply affect many important aspects of a person later on in life if not diagnosed or treated properly. For many people, it goes on to impact both physical and mental health, coping mechanisms, and behavioral patterns, significantly influencing their thoughts and actions in their day-to-day lives.
But what exactly is childhood trauma? Childhood trauma results from a dangerous, distressing, or frightening event that a child encounters. It encompasses a variety of experiences, such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, domestic violence, neglect, and serious accidents. Throughout childhood, trauma can cause physical symptoms, like headaches, or cognitive symptoms, such as mental health conditions, reduced cognitive abilities, and more.
However, trauma that occurs early on in life not only impacts childhood but continues to affect adulthood as well. As mentioned earlier, adults with childhood trauma are similarly at a higher risk of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, anger issues, or PTSD. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service found that one in three newly diagnosed mental health conditions in adults were linked to childhood trauma. Additionally, having traumatic childhood experiences with loved ones can cause difficulty in forming healthy relationships. Encountering trauma in close relationships at a young age often causes people to associate fear and stress with future connections. Depending on the type of trauma that a person experienced, their approach to relationships may vary. For instance, adults who went through physical or sexual abuse often avoid relying on others due to the fear of betrayal or rejection. On the other hand, those who faced neglect and insufficient care from parents may be more clingy and seek reassurance from others.
Furthermore, childhood trauma can also play a major role in creating unhealthy coping mechanisms. One common example is substance use, which often begins or increases after traumatic experiences. A study conducted at Columbia University found that psychological trauma, particularly abuse and domestic violence before age 11, can increase the likelihood of drug use in adolescence. Drugs and alcohol are often used as a mental escape and help numb the pain of those going through difficult times. Teenagers or adults still affected by childhood trauma may turn to substance use as a coping mechanism, which can lead to addiction.
Another effect which many forget to consider is that childhood trauma can impact physical health as well. Harvard alumna Nadine Burke Harris found that early exposure to trauma can dramatically increase risk for 7 out of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, including heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure. Research also shows that the toxic stress created by childhood adversity can cause changes in the brain and hormonal system.
The lasting impacts of childhood pain emphasize the importance of properly treating trauma before it can cause serious damage. The first step to healing should be recognizing the trauma and opening up to others about it. Many believe that ignoring or trying to forget the trauma will help them heal, but acknowledging the past is crucial to help move on. This is because pushing away trauma does not mean it will simply disappear—oftentimes, unaddressed trauma lingers and can negatively influence thoughts, mental health, and behavior. Facing the past allows people to process their experiences, understand the impact of these events, and accept them to move on. This forms a pivotal self-awareness which can help the trauma survivor release bottled-up feelings of guilt and stress to alleviate their symptoms of trauma.
Therapy can also be helpful, with many types used specifically for treating trauma. These include trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and written expressive therapy, all of which aim to help with mental conditions like PTSD by helping the survivor develop healthy coping mechanisms and address their trauma. Besides therapy, engaging in fun activities, hobbies, exercising, and getting enough sleep can help reduce stress and boost positivity.
With child abuse and neglect continuing to stand as glaring issues in today’s society, we must understand the severity of their impacts. We can all help out in different ways, whether it may be through spreading awareness, protecting those around us, or helping others heal. Everyone can help break cycles of abuse and trauma all over the world if we continue working towards these goals.
Citations:
Burrows, S. (2024, May 1). How Childhood Trauma May Impact Adults. URMC Newsroom.
Geng, C. (2023, October 5). Effects of childhood trauma: Symptoms and how to heal. Medical
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2015, March 13). Childhood trauma’s
devastating impact on health. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; HSPH.
Newport Institute. (2022, March 3). 4 Ways Childhood Trauma Impacts Young Adult
Thriving. Newport
SAMHSA. (2014). Understanding the Impact of Trauma. National Library of Medicine;
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
SAMHSA. (2024, December 3). Child Trauma. Samhsa.gov. https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-
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