How Childhood Trauma Can Affect Daily Life

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, over two thirds of children in the United States have experienced at least one traumatic event before turning 16. [1]

While this number alone is unfortunate, the effects of childhood trauma on adults can be debilitating. With our residential mental health program in Boca, we work with adults who are still trying to move past these traumatic childhood experiences.

Symptoms of Childhood Trauma in Adults

Childhood trauma can stem from experiencing or witnessing many horrific events including various forms of abuse, family issues, violence, natural disasters, loss, refugee experiences, neglect, serious illness, and near-death experiences. While people cope with trauma in different ways, at our mental health facility in South Florida, we know firsthand that sometimes those traumatic childhood events develop into real word symptoms in adults. Not only can adults experience the psychological impacts of childhood trauma with mental health disorders and emotional issues, but also the effects of childhood trauma can lead to physical ailments and problems. These problems can be worse if they were neglected when they first occurred, or the child lacked a proper support system.

Some signs of childhood trauma in adults include:

• Suicide attempts
• Substance abuse
• Relationship and social problems
• Cardiovascular disease
• Liver disease
• Changes in normal brain development
• Mental health disorders like PTSD, depression, and anxiety [2]

One study found the effects of childhood trauma to have an accrual effect with each childhood trauma increasing the odds of multiple health problems in adulthood. Some of these issues include pain, disability, general practitioner visits, emergency room visits, and poor health as rated by the person themselves. [3] While the severity of the effects can vary, it seems that, in most cases, childhood trauma impacts adults in some way, shape, or form.

At our mental illness treatment facility, we work with many adults who are still experiencing the effect of childhood trauma. With our depression treatment, anxiety treatment, and trauma treatment, we are here to help you move on from the past that could still be haunting you.

Are you or someone you love searching for mental health care in Boca Raton? At Banyan Mental Health, we provide our patients with the personalized care they need to work through their mental health disorders.

Whether you need trauma treatment or co-occurring disorder treatment, contact us today at 888-280-4763 to learn more about how we can help you conquer your mental illness and move forward with your life.

Sources:

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – Understanding Child Trauma
2. The Conversation – How childhood trauma can affect mental and physical health into adulthood
3. Science Direct – Separate and cumulative effect of adverse childhood experiences in predicting adult health and health care utilization