Key Takeaway
We all know that traumatic experiences can manifest into mental and physical problems in adulthood such as: depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but did you know that childhood trauma is associated with a 70% to 80% increased risk of adult hospitalization with an autoimmune disease?
Research has shown that childhood trauma affects the limbic system, which is responsible for emotional responses. Because childhood trauma rarely occurs in isolation, the cumulative effect of multiple traumatic experiences continually activates the body's stress response. This creates an environment where the central nervous system and endocrine system begin to dysfunction and increase the risk for chronic illnesses in adulthood.
What are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)?
According to the CDC, ACEs are traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years). Examples include:
- Experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect
- Witnessing violence in the home or community
- Having a family member attempt or die by suicide
- Witnessing hardships such as illness and/or pain
- Experiencing illness at a young age
Other aspects of a child's environment that may threaten their safety, stability, and bonding include growing up in a household with mental health problems, substance abuse problems, growing up in poverty, or parental separation due to divorce, prison, or jail.
The CDC-Kaiser ACE Study:
The CDC-Kaiser ACE Study is one of the largest studies conducted on the development of disease in relation to childhood trauma. From 1995 to 1997, over 17,000 people received physical examinations and completed confidential surveys on their current health status and childhood experiences.
Approximately two-thirds of participants reported at least one ACE, and 1 in 5 participants reported three or more ACEs. This study found that as a person experiences more ACEs, the likelihood of getting "multiple risk factors for several of the leading causes of death in adults" significantly increases.
How Traumatic Stress Affects the Body:
A 2015 study stated that the "cumulative burden of adverse experiences has been shown to cause negative effects on physiological, cognitive, behavioral, and psychological functions" which can create an environment where rheumatoid arthritis, frequent migraines, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and other chronic symptoms can form.
Biologically, stress affects the body at a cellular level. The two primary stress response systems include the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system. The HPA axis releases cortisol, the primary stress hormone.
When the body is in a constant "fight or flight" mode, it is solely focused on survival. This creates an environment where cortisol and adrenaline imbalances can occur. An imbalance of cortisol levels may result in negative consequences including:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sjogren's Syndrome
- Cushing's Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
What Can Be Done?
Healing from childhood trauma and its effects on the body requires a multi-faceted approach. This includes: working with a trauma-informed therapist, supporting the nervous system through vagus nerve exercises, addressing nutritional deficiencies, addressing microbial infections and toxicities, and rebuilding the body's resilience.