How childhood trauma can affect women
Scroll Down for Dr. Holland's Perspective on this article
According to the Office on Women's Health, abuse, whether physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual, can have long-term effects on mental health impacting self-esteem and relationships. Women who have gone through abuse or other trauma have a higher risk of developing a mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is possible to heal the physical, mental, and emotional scars of trauma and abuse.
One national study of more than 3,000 women found that women who experienced childhood trauma were more likely than others to have their first child both earlier in life and outside of marriage -- and that those factors were associated with poorer health later in life. These results suggest that early trauma -- such as the death of a parent, physical abuse or emotional neglect -- may affect young people's decision-making in ways that they can't entirely control. Multiple studies have shown that childhood trauma is also strongly associated with multiple health risks, including cancer, diabetes, stroke and early death.
Trauma as an adult
Abuse may happen during childhood but it can also occur as an adult manifesting in the form of emotional, verbal, physical, or sexual trauma. It can involve dangerous, frightening, or extremely stressful situations or events, such as sexual assault, war, an accident or natural disaster, the sudden or violent death of a close loved one, or a serious physical health problem. Women who suffer trauma report long-term effects including severe anxiety, stress, or fear, abuse of alcohol or drugs, depression, eating disorders, self-injury and even thoughts of suicide.
How trauma is treated
Symptoms caused by abuse or trauma if often treated using a combination of of talk therapy, medicine, or both. Therapy with a professional counselor is helpful for working through feelings and learning healthier ways of coping. Complementary mind and body therapies are also available and have proven highly successful for treating trauma, such as mindfulness and yoga, art therapy, bodywork, animal-based therapy such as canine therapy and equine facilitated therapy, to name just a few.
Dr. Holland's Perspective
"If we experience an extremely stressful or disturbing event, it can us feeling helpless and emotionally out of control. Psychological trauma can cause a person to struggle with upsetting emotions, recurring memories and every day anxiety. Unresolved childhood trauma can also cause feelings of being numb, disconnected and unable to trust other people. Whether the trauma happened in your childhood or just yesterday, it is important to understand that you can make healing changes and move on with your life in positive ways."
Experiencing trauma in childhood can result in a severe and long-lasting effect. When childhood trauma is not resolved, a sense of fear and helplessness carries over into adulthood, setting the stage for more trauma. There are steps you can take to overcome the pain, learn to trust and connect to others again, and regain your sense of emotional balance. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Holland call 707-479-2946 or fill out the online appointment request form.