Childhood trauma

Childhood trauma
By Jimmy Henderson

Trauma has specific components which identify it as such. For instance, it involves extremely powerful emotions such as fear, helplessness or horror, resulting from experiencing, seeing or just being confronted by an event which involves death or serious injury to oneself, loved ones or even friends. An example of this would be the effect on victims and families of the World Trade Centre destruction in 2001.
However, trauma can also result from being the victim of violent crime or serious abuse. Such an event sets off a roller-coaster of emotional, psychological and physical reactions which can take years to settle and from which some people may never fully recover. It can take place at any time in one’s life, including childhood, and its impact will depend on the degree of violence involved, the severity of the event and the coping mechanisms of the person involved.
For example, childhood trauma could result from the child being caught up in a natural disaster such as an earthquake, a serious accident in which family members are killed, being the victim of, or simply witnessing violent crime directed at his or her parents. It could also be the result of serious violence directed at the child by a parent (or parents), but as I said, it is usually associated with a specific event (or events) with far-reaching consequences such as rape. Other less violent forms of sexual or emotional abuse are more likely to result in other disorders.

As I said, trauma results in a chain–reaction of symptoms which unfold over a period of weeks and months. In the case of children, who have not yet developed complex coping mechanisms, the most likely symptoms would be emotional numbness and withdrawal (or frequent agitation, outbursts and crying) an inability to perform tasks (schoolwork), not eating and sleeping properly (nightmares) and physical ailments such as running stomach, cramps and other illnesses. If they are old enough to verbalise their emotions, they may talk about feeling very scared and helpless.

Trauma is a serious situation and requires immediate counselling by a qualified therapist. This is not something that can be dealt with by the parents or school. If it is not handled quickly and effectively, it can become what is known as post-traumatic stress disorder which can be a debilitating situation for both children and adults. The effects of trauma can persist through adolescence and adulthood resulting in persistent fears and images of the event, frightening dreams and memories, hallucinations and imaginings, an inability to concentrate and can even affect one’s personality (increased irritability, anger and withdrawing socially and emotionally).

Trauma can be treated by therapy directed at returning the persons sense of mastery and control and this normally involves changing their thoughts about the event. To answer the question of whether we are victims of our childhood trauma, much depends on the support and treatment received during and after the event. Trauma is one of the most difficult issues to deal with and unless the child receives the correct support and treatment immediately, is empowered to process the event (s) more successfully and develop better coping skills, these symptoms, in the case of PTSD, can go on to severely affect one’s adult family, social and working life.

Few partners would be able to put up with the outbursts and unpredictability of a person suffering from this disorder and it certainly will affect one’s parenting skills as well, due to the effects on one’s personality (withdrawal, anger and irrtitability). The preoccupation with the images and pain of the past (and the subsequent inability to concentrate effectively) could also affect one’s choice of career and ability to work.

Sources consulted : Barlow, D.H.& Durand, V.M. (2002). Abnormal psychology: An integrated approach. (3rd ed.). Belmont : Wadsworth/Thompson Learning.
Friedman, Merle. (Dr.) (2004). Trauma Counsellors Training Course.

Jimmy Henderson is a trained trauma counsellor (busy with master’s degree in psychology). He is also the author of a number of self-help books and articles –see www.jimmyhendersonbooks.com