The National Institute of Mental Health (USA) defines childhood trauma as: “The experience of an event by a child that is emotionally painful or distressful, which often results in lasting mental and physical effects.”
Causes of psychological trauma:
- sexual, physical or emotional abuse
- witnessing or experiencing violence
- physical and emotional neglect
- parental ill-health
- a parent who misuses substances e.g. alcohol or drugs
- a parent put in prison
- separation of parents or divorce
Trauma may cause mental illness. One study showed that nearly half of all children in the United States are exposed to at least one traumatic social or family experience (Bethell et al, 2014). The numbers are staggering which suggests the impact of trauma on psychological problems in childhood and later in adult life are often underestimated.
Trauma in young children is especially harmful. In that age group, the brain is developing. Many studies show that children must have a feeling of attachment to a caregiver during early childhood. Otherwise, brain development may be harmed leading to a lifetime of psychological problems.
Physical trauma: Concussions are bruises on the brain caused by physical injury. The resulting scars damage brain tissue and may reduce intellectual capacity and emotional stability.