Childhood Trauma and Mental Health

Treatment specialists have long known the correlation between childhood trauma and mental health. Adverse childhood experiences can cause a wide range of mental disorders throughout adolescence and adulthood. PTSD treatment centers in New Jersey focus on providing therapy for children and adults who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders.

Children who are abused, neglected, or experience a traumatic event are at risk of mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, borderline personality disorders, social phobia, addiction, or eating disorders. Therefore, treatment is often necessary to help a victim manage the systems and live a fuller, healthier life beyond trauma. Let’s take a closer look a childhood trauma and mental health to get a better understanding of the condition.

Common Childhood Traumas

Children are not equipped to deal with severe trauma. Their emotions and mental state are still in the development phase. Therefore, when a traumatic event occurs, it can create changes in brain function. The type of trauma that occurs determines how a child responds and how it affects life. Common childhood traumas in the home include:

• Substance abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse
• Neglect
• Divorce
• Mental illness

In many cases, the traumas that children experience rarely occur as a single event. A child may have to endure verbal or physical abuse for several years before they finally leave home. Anxiety treatment centers often address these types of issues and help clients overcome prolonged trauma during childhood.

Childhood Trauma and Mental Health Disorders

The symptoms of trauma can range from alcoholism or drug abuse to feelings of isolation, fear, and behavioral changes. Common disorders associated with childhood trauma include:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD is a disorder that occurs as a result of experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. A child that is unable to cope after trauma will often go into survival mode and stay there until adulthood. PTSD is characterized by a wide range of emotional, relational, and physical symptoms.
• Acute Stress Disorder: Acute stress disorder is similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. The difference is that the symptoms of acute stress disorder usually occur within the first 30 days after the event. A child may engage in misconduct or exhibit nervousness or a depressed mood. Acute stress disorder could be more or less a prolonged state of shock.
• Reactive Attachment Disorder: A PTSD treatment program can help victims who suffer from reactive attachment disorder. Children who have the disorder may show little to no emotional responses in situations where being emotional is often understood or expected. They do not have emotional triggers and appear to care about very little.
• Drug or Alcohol Addiction: One of the clearest indications that there is a connection between childhood trauma and mental health disorders is addiction. Substance abuse can start as early as adolescence and continue into adulthood, getting worse with each passing year. Teenagers often drink or take drugs to cope with the emotional pain they feel from the trauma.

Trauma-Informed Care

When treating someone for childhood trauma, it is important to be sensitive to their emotional state. Quite often, a victim may have to recount or relive their trauma multiple times when going through multiple forms of treatment. This can cause more harm than good if not handled correctly.

Trauma-informed care introduces different types of treatment that help an individual address their issues without reliving the traumatic event over and over. Treatment specialists develop strategies for managing the symptoms of trauma and helping clients move beyond the traumatic event.

Treatment for Childhood Trauma and Mental Health is Available at Victory Bay

At Victory Bay, we explore the connection between childhood trauma and mental health and develop the right treatment to help you with your condition. Our outpatient alcohol addiction treatment center in New Jersey provides the right programs to help you recover from your childhood trauma. Contact Victory Bay today at [Direct] to learn more about your treatment options.