Childhood Trauma and Attachment

by guest blogger Daniel Gospodarek, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Finding a childhood trauma and attachment therapist in Milwaukee, WI can help you heal the wounds of the past and to live your best life

One of the most prominent experiences one can have during childhood is being exposed to traumatic experiences. This could be a single event or chronic traumatization over the years. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes about 15% - 43% of girls and 14% - 43% of boys will experience one traumatic event. It should be noted that not all trauma will lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This will be discussed further down in the article.

Despite exposure to trauma, finding a childhood trauma and attachment therapist in Milwaukee, WI can help you heal the wounds of the past and to live your best life.

Childhood Trauma and Neglect

Childhood trauma and neglect may take many forms. This section will briefly cover more common forms of trauma and neglect but is not an exhaustive list.

·      Abuse – this includes physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological forms of abuse.

·      Neglect – not meeting a child’s needs in terms of clothing, food, stable connections with others, and safety.

·      Community violence – includes natural disasters, human-made catastrophes, and school shootings.

·      Play-related accidents – early sports involvement and playground-related injuries.

·      Illness of loss of a relative – unpredictable illness or loss may occur at any time during childhood.

All of these events can leave their impact on the body and nervous system regulation if left untreated.

Trauma’s Impact on Childhood Development

Childhood trauma can directly impact a youth’s development. Depending on the intensity and duration of trauma, the effects of trauma may be different for every child. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network highlights various domains of a child’s life that may be impacted by trauma. Their article can be found here to read more. Some of the common effects of trauma on child development may include:

·      Nervous system dysregulation

·      Emotional lability

·      Relational and attachment challenges

·      Reactivity to life

·      Difficulty learning in school

As a child, if these traumatic experiences are not integrated, they may go on to influence future behavior(s) and future achievement.

The Lasting Effects of Childhood Trauma

Exposure to childhood trauma and neglect can lead to lifelong challenges, if not healed. After a child experiences trauma, the brain and nervous system ramp up in order to protect from future stressors. This can lead to cognitive problems around trusting others and self, emotional reactivity, and nervous system dysregulation. If the child does not have the appropriate mental buffers and support system, these symptoms can persist into adulthood.  

If the traumatic experience does not automatically integrate into the body, a resulting trauma response will result. The body responds to past threat and perceived threats by increasing adrenaline and stress hormones to prepare itself for fight, flight, freeze, or appease responses. However, when the body is constantly exposed to stress hormones and adrenaline, it can create medical problems later in life and interfere with immune system functioning.

Furthermore, when one’s sense of trust in oneself and others is disrupted, future relationships may become challenging. This is because the traumatic experience interferes with a child’s development of their sense of self and their ability to relate to others. Click here to read more on the Adverse Childhood Experiences study to learn more about childhood trauma’s effect on life.  

Childhood Trauma Therapist in Milwaukee, WI

At Forward Healing, we are trained to provide childhood trauma therapy to both youth and adults who are trying to heal from the past. We draw from expressive art therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to help you along the trauma recovery path. We can be contacted by calling 720.441.8020 or by submitting an online form on our site here. We look forward to hearing from you.

 https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_children_teens.asp

https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/complex-trauma/effects

https://www.cdc.gov/aces/about/index.html

Childhood Trauma and Attachment Therapist in Milwaukee, WI

This blog was written by Daniel Gospodarek, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He operates Revitalize Mental Health PLLC in Kenosha, Wisconsin which serves men who have experienced various forms of trauma, infidelity, and work-related traumas, first responders, military personnel, and healthcare professionals looking to heal. Daniel is duly licensed in both Wisconsin and Colorado. He is certified in EMDR and is currently on his advanced level of Somatic Experiencing training.