Treatments and management strategies for adults who experienced childhood trauma include: Support is available for adults who experienced trauma in childhood. This can lead to substance use disorders, including addiction. People who experience abuse or trauma in childhood may use alcohol and drugs as a coping method. Substance misuseĬhildhood trauma may lead to substance misuse in teenagers and adults. RelationshipsĪdverse experiences in childhood may cause toxic stress, which can affect a person’s ability to form healthy, stable relationships.Ī 2017 study involving newlywed couples suggests that people who experienced abuse in childhood were less likely to feel satisfied in relationships, even as newlyweds, regardless of their partner’s characteristics and behaviors. People who experience childhood trauma may have a higher risk of serious mental health conditions as adults, including:Īccording to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), 1 in 3 newly diagnosed mental health conditions in adults are directly linked to adverse experiences in childhood. These events may increase the risk of certain chronic health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease.Ī 2019 review of studies found that people who experienced childhood trauma had a higher risk of the following health conditions in adulthood: Physical healthĪccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adverse childhood experiences can affect the immune system. Affected adults may experience the following potential effects of childhood trauma. Symptoms of childhood trauma in adulthoodĬhildhood trauma can have ongoing, sometimes lifelong effects.
Emotional regulation: Children who experience trauma may have difficulty managing their emotions.
Children may blame themselves for the trauma or feel powerless and helpless. Self-esteem: Childhood trauma can lead to a sense of worthlessness, shame, and guilt in children.Children may have difficulty problem-solving, planning, learning new information, and reasoning effectively. Cognitive abilities: Childhood trauma may affect emotional and mental processes in the brain.Mental health: A 2021 review of studies associates childhood trauma with mental health conditions in adulthood, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and psychosis.Physical health: Children may experience heightened physical stress responses and physical symptoms, such as headaches and stomachaches.The effects of trauma can affect many areas of a child’s life.