Sexual abuse, physical abuse and accidents all have a high potential to cause childhood trauma. However, any situation that overwhelms a child’s ability to cope can be harmful. Emotional neglect is an especially widespread problem. It can be harder to spot than physical or sexual abuse. Mental health experts, such as those at Brunel University London, have associated it with similarly poor outcomes. Children in families with low socioeconomic status or instability at home have a particularly high risk of trauma and abuse.
One in 4 children will experience abuse or neglect, as estimated by researchers at the University of Texas. These situations often go unreported, so these statistics likely underestimate the prevalence of abuse or neglect. Researchers believe childhood maltreatment is a major risk factor for adult psychopathology, or mental illness.
In this blog post, we’ll outline some effects that childhood trauma can have on your teen’s mental health in the long and short term.
What impact can childhood sexual abuse and trauma have on a teen’s long-term mental health?
Childhood abuse and trauma have the worst outcomes when they occur early in life and when they continue for a long time, according to a study from researchers in Boston. Mental health conditions are common among trauma survivors. When symptoms go without treatment, the risks increase. Early childhood trauma affects brain development and the expression of certain genes. These changes can also lead to mental impairment and health conditions at any stage of life. Survivors of childhood trauma may engage in risky behaviors, use substances, or have less financial security. Difficulties in relationships often prevent these people from receiving help and support.
Childhood trauma raises a teen’s mental health risks
Teens with a history of trauma may start experiencing mental health conditions at an earlier age. Their symptoms may be more severe and less responsive to treatment. Emotional reactivity can lead to both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Internalizing leads to conditions like depression, anxiety, dissociative disorders and eating disorders. Externalizing symptoms manifest as aggression, impulsivity, and rebellious or antisocial behavior. Mental impairments can include problems with executive function, learning disorders and poor performance in school.
Childhood trauma raises a teen’s physical health risks
Childhood trauma and sexual abuse put people at a higher risk for a range of medical conditions. The net result is a lower life expectancy. Children and teens with a history of trauma often have a strong tendency to feel stress and experience a high sensitivity to it. This, along with changes in certain parts of the brain, immune system dysfunction and changes to DNA, can all cause health problems.
As they grow and mature, trauma survivors are more likely to have excess weight and conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Asthma, chronic pain conditions, sleep problems, fatigue, gastrointestinal complaints, neurological disorders and many other health conditions occur more often in trauma survivors.
Childhood trauma raises a teen’s likelihood of risky behavior
The combination of emotional distress, social stigma and unhealthy family dynamics can be very isolating. Many children don’t have access to resources, so they never reach out for help or receive treatment for their trauma. Instead, they may develop unhealthy coping mechanisms or self-medicate. Substance use, hypersexuality or promiscuity, and delinquency are common behavioral patterns. Both the behaviors themselves and the consequences of poor decisions can have effects that change the course of their lives.
Childhood trauma raises a teen’s risks of social and economic difficulties
As children and teens, trauma survivors often struggle to relate to their peers. They may form anxious, avoidant or disorganized attachment styles. Over time, social difficulties can have a compounding effect on other life problems. These children may be less financially secure as adults. They face both worse career prospects and higher healthcare costs. Without treatment, they’re also more likely to become abusive parents and repeat the cycle.
Treatment helps improve outcomes for survivors of childhood sexual abuse and trauma
Adolescents aged 10 to 18 who experience trauma early on can still hope for a healthy and meaningful adult life. After PTSD was recognized as a diagnosis in 1980, more researchers started studying childhood trauma. Some important breakthroughs led to treatments that have shown promising results.
It’s critical for young people to receive personalized treatment for their trauma. At Embrace U, we use several evidence-based modalities with our patients. We don’t only focus on symptom reduction. We tailor each patient’s treatment plan to suit their personality and their life goals. The end result is a strong foundation for lifelong mental wellness.
Are you seeking treatment for a young person in your life who’s had some traumatic experiences? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment. Let’s talk about the next steps toward recovery and healing.