Young children rely heavily on their caretakers for care, nurturing, and safety. Trauma can happen when a youngster watches or suffers a series of traumatic events during his or her childhood. Many childhood events might be overwhelming for a youngster. Abuse, assault, neglect, aggression, exploitation, and bullying can all occur in such relationships. The experiences of children who experience trauma are a major problem worldwide, including in India.
People who have had four or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are much more likely to develop mental illness, risky behaviors, and chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially stressful incidents that happen to children before they become eighteen years old. Such events can negatively impact a person’s health, prospects, and stability throughout the course of their lifetime, and they can even have an impact on future generations. Adverse childhood experiences might include being emotionally or physically abused, physically hurt, sexually abused, or neglected emotionally or physically. These traumatic events can be both emotional and physical, leaving a person with long-term mental health concerns and addictive tendencies.
“I felt like I was condemned when my mother was given her punishment. She received a jail term in order to be separated from her children and family. I was given the punishment of growing up without my mother.”—Antoinette (quoted in Bernstein, 2005, p. 122)
Toxic stress may overwhelm and harm anybody, especially in the early years before coping mechanisms are acquired and the brain has had a chance to properly develop—and especially if there is no protective caregiver there. There is, nevertheless, strong cause for optimism. Even decades later, any damage or suffering brought on by toxic stress can be significantly eased. The brain can be rewired since it is plastic. If we have the bravery to face them with comprehension, compassion, and expertise, hidden wounds can begin to heal. Every treatment appears to control the stress response and positively changes us. The solutions rewire harmful ACE programming in the brain to change the way we experience ourselves with the help of support.
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
About MindTribe.in.
MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.
About the Author.
Muskan Nayyar is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.