Asking for help is the first step

Understanding childhood trauma

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente in the late 1990s, revealed a deeply touching reality: over 60% of American adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in childhood. These experiences can come from various sources, such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, abandonment, witnessing domestic violence, or parental separation or divorce. Additionally, life's challenges like accidents, the loss of a loved one, serious illness, bullying, and natural disasters can also lead to trauma.

The impact of childhood trauma can be profound and long-lasting. It might show up as physical symptoms like a compromised immune system or chronic pain, or emotional struggles such as overwhelming emotions, depression, and anxiety. You might also experience hypervigilance, nightmares, trust issues, low self-esteem, heightened stress, shame, guilt, addiction issues, relationship difficulties, and anger. If you endured childhood trauma that was undiagnosed, untreated, or unresolved, these symptoms might still affect you in adulthood.

It's important to know that trauma affects everyone differently. Not everyone who goes through these painful experiences will develop PTSD, but the effects can still be significant and varied. Each person's response to trauma is unique, and that uniqueness deserves to be acknowledged and respected. My hope is that as you begin your healing journey, you will find the strength to live with intention and purpose.