Tough Childhood? The Effects of Trauma on Your Brain
Dr. Sheri Jacobson
March 9, 2023
By: Keoni Cabral
by Andrea M. Darcy
The effects of childhood trauma are very real and can persist long into adulthood if proper support is not sought.
Don’t believe it? Science now shows that childhood trauma actually affects your brain.
How the brain develops
Although the bulk of it develops while in the womb, your brain continues to grow and build itself. Neural connections form throughout your life.
Scientists can’t say exactly what percentage of your brain is developed by what age. But it’s sure that childhood is a crucial period of growth. It’s estimated that in the first few years of life, your brain forms from 700 to 1,000 neural connections every second. And these connections form the foundation for further brain development.
What sorts of childhood trauma effects the brain?
Any kind of abuse – physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse – is very traumatic for a child and will affect brain development.
Other experiences that are very traumatic for children include:
- neglect and/or extreme poverty
- a violent household
- losing a parent or sibling
- a mentally ill or addicted parent
- experiencing a natural disaster or war.
What if you grew up in a ‘good family home’ but have all the signs of trauma? You might not have received what in psychology is referred to as ‘proper attachment‘. It’s very traumatic for a child to not feel loved, supported, and safe.
Lack of Proper Attachment and Brain Development
By: Neil Conway
Attachment theory states that for a child to grow up into an adult who can confidently form healthy relationships with others, they need a strong and reliable bond with a caregiver for the first few years of their life.
This means that when, as a child, you cried, or gestured, or otherwise tried to express your needs, an adult responded in an appropriate way.
Perhaps they picked you up and held you, or spoke to you, or otherwise let you know that your needs would be met and you were safe.
This kind of supportive back-and-forth between a child and an adult is called ‘serve and return interaction’ and is not just important for your psychological development as an infant – it is crucial for the healthy development of your brain. Each time a positive interaction takes place between a child and adult neural connections are built.
If these healthy interactions did not take place — if the person taking care of you was unreliable, unable to love and care for you, or not well — it means these neural pathways may not form as strongly, meaning your mental and emotional health may be impaired as adult.
So if my parents were awful now and then, it affected my brain?
No parent is perfect, and some research shows that a child needs a variation in the response he or she receives from adults in order to realise they are a separate human and to move towards learning how to problem solve and be independent. Some stress is part of healthy development.
It’s only when the stress response is triggered too often, or rarely has a chance to shut off, that the physiological reactions of the body can become a threat to brain development.
In summary, children don’t need a ‘perfect childhood’. Children do, however, need to feel loved and accepted no matter their behaviour, and they do need support to deal with stress. They also require routines, play, healthy social connection, and good role models.
Just how does childhood trauma effect the brain?
By: NICHD
As stated above, childhood trauma affects the way your neural pathways form or do not form.
Trauma can thus cause lasting changes in the areas of the brain that deal with stress, namely the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. Studies on animals also found that trauma actually damaged neurons.
And not receiving the care and affection you required as a child also would see you experiencing the physiological effects of stress.
One of the side effects of the body’s primordial stress response is a flooding of hormones throughout the body, such as increased levels of cortisol and norepinephrine. These hormones can sometimes be another source of harm to the child’s brain architecture.
What are the symptoms that childhood trauma has affected your brain?
Symptoms as an adult that could mean childhood trauma has affected your brain development can include:
- learning difficulties including focus issues
- behavioural problems
- self regulation (ability to control yourself)
- emotional and psychological health issues
- memory problems
- poor planning and prioritising abilities
- procrastination
- lack of resilience
- issues with social skills and relating to others.
Suffering trauma as a child can also mean that as an adult your body physically responds to stress more than it should. Research looking at the effects of traumatic stress on the brain found that those with PTSD had higher than usual hormonal levels in response to stress, or dysregulation‘, including increased levels of cortisol.
Psychological issues related to childhood trauma
The psychological issues that have been related to the effects of trauma on the brain include:
- Adult ADHD
- Anxiety
- depression
- dissociation
- impulsivity
- low self-esteem
- PTSD
- high stress levels
- personality disorders like BPD
- substance abuse.
Are all my problems down to childhood trauma?
No, DNA is also a factor. You are born with certain brain circuits. But the way these circuits develop does depend on the serve and return interactions you experienced.
You are basically born with the potential to develop behaviours and skills. But whether or not and how these skills develop for you is dependent on how you are nurtured and what your childhood experiences are. So it’s part your experiences, part your genetic inheritance.
This might be why two children can experience the same trauma but one will manage to be resilient while the other suffers symptoms throughout their life.
What can I do if I think my brain has been effected?
If, reading the above, you recognise the issues and symptoms and the types of experiences that register in the brain as trauma, it’s important to seek professional support.
Psychotherapy and counselling can help you manage the effects of childhood trauma on your adult life, meaning you have better relationships, your moods improve, and you feel more in control of your life.
And it seems that therapy can even rewire your brain. A 2017 study done by London’s King College, for example, used brain imaging to show that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) increased brain connectivity long-term.
Need help managing childhood trauma? Harley Therapy connects you with highly experienced, friendly therapists in three London locations as well as worldwide via online therapy.
Hello, I want to thank you and everyone connected in creating this article. I had sexual trauma at 5 years old by a sibling. I’ve been in AA since 1985, but just recently have been lifted up. It was through mega dosing of Vitamin D3, Magnesium and B12. Only these three were the catalyst, but being an addict took me to an even greater range of vitamins and minerals.
Today my growth means so much, that I too may help others who still suffer.
Thank you,
Leslie…
Thank you for sharing Leslie! It’s certainly important to consider our physical health when creating a plan for psychological health, and these vitamins and minerals are all known to help moods.
Thank you for your article, it was very informative and helpful. I struggled learning in school mostly when it came to the reading portions in every subject. It wasn’t so much that I couldn’t read but I read slowly and it took a while to get the understanding of what I read. Now that I am in college after many years out of school, I find myself having a lot of the same frustrations when I try to study. Are there test that can be performed to determine if I have a learning disability that causes me to not readily understand what I read. I did have some rejection and inappropriate touching types of issues and trauma as a child as well as suffered from clinical depression off and on for many years.
Hi Rae, there are tests around learning disabilities. If you are at college look into what they offer students. Almost all colleges now have free counselling for those with any kind of learning struggle. You might also find your college offers free counselling. Do reach out for support! Trauma can definitely make learning harder, as discussed in this article, so the sooner you can seek some help the better. But good for you for making it to college, and wonderful that you are doing some research to try to get to the root of what is going on for you!
Hi, I would like to know why no one ever thinks that there is a reason for someone not fitting in the ‘norms’. Why is it so difficult for people to see the obvious? I believe that they don’t want to see the obvious because they love the way it feels! We don’t appreciate what we were given that makes us all equal. What a disgrace it is to devalue the signifigance of being a misfit and why. To be abused as a child and then abused by society as an adult. Doesn’t seem right at all! The courts punish you for being the way you are, by putting you in prison, Law enforcement will stalk and harass you everytime they have the chance. They will hurt your child without any remorse. The agencies that were created to be for the welfare of people, will forget its mission by assisting in attacks to harm the misfit. And all the while believing that the misfit deserved it in every way possible. They love how it feels to hate! They love to wake up with hate, they love showing their children how to hate,… They don’t want to give up their obsession for any “reason”.
Jill, we hear you, and we understand why you are so upset. It is true that in many ways Western society has it backwards. We should be helping those who traumatised, we should be focussing on children and protecting them and teaching them in schools how to take care of their mental and emotional health. Instead too many people suffer tremendous trauma, have zero support, end up lashing out and incarcerated, or lonely and isolated, or labelled with something like ‘borderline personality disorder’ and judged. But on a good note, there is more and more information and there are many good people and organisations working to change this.
hello everyone, I wanted to express my gratitude, and appreciation to all the responses and replies, but most of all the author. I am now attempting to enter the PTG post trauma growth theory with trepidation. I cannot recall anything but being a punching ball that I was experiencing abuse from every where, my peers, teachers, the principal, but mostly my mom and older sister put me through hell and back. I was a feminine gay male at 4 years old and I believe my family and relatives thought they could beat it out of me. I am now my own perpetrator, under control. The only thing in my life was fashion and design of buildings interior and exterior. But the fashion started at 4 years old. but I never had the support to give me further opportunities with education. In fact it was ignored, denied by a mother who is narcissistic to this day. Anyway thoughts for future patients to read the endeavors and hopefully resilience you go through.
David, we really appreciate this open sharing. And we are thrilled to hear you are making the big step of seeking support. We wish you courage!
I just completed a neuropsychological evaluation and was told my I.Q. has been significantly impacted due to childhood trauma and abuse. Because, (I was told) I am “gifted” and have significant “cognitive reserves”, even with the negative impact, my scores range from the “high-end of average (i.e., non-verbal) to superior (i.e., verbal)” and my composite score is 117; but, I was told my scores should be (we’re in?) in the 140s”. Is this possible? Does childhood trauma impact I.Q. as an adult? Can your I.Q. change that significantly? If so, how is it determined what it should be/was? I was also told that we could change the scores with proper treatment – is that possible?
I should also include I’ve had long-term treatment resistant, very severe depression, general anxiety disorder, CPTSD and am newly (as part of this same evaluation), diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
Last, are there any other resources (e.g., books, organizations, etc.) you would recommend to learn more about this whole “I.Q. being impacted by trauma” thing? Thank you!
Hi Pamela, we are not specialists on this subject, as our editorial team has counselling and psychotherapy training but not psychiatry training or clinical psychology training. So we can’t compete with the professional advice you’ve been given, and aren’t actually an advice or research service. From a psychotherapy perspective, yes, the brain is deeply affected by trauma, as you’ll read about in the article. We do not know any books that focus exactly on IQ and trauma. A quick google search and you’ll find that there are so many books about trauma these days. We’d just say that the classic is by Bessel van der Kolk, “The Body Keeps the Score”. Good luck.
This may be an old thread but still very much a topic that’s relevant to me and many adults living in today’s ‘blinkered’ society. People who’s adult lives were pre-defined by neglectful and/or an abusive childhood.
I myself aged six was sexually abused by a vicar on my Christening day in 1969 while at church! and aged seven, unceremoniously dumped into care, then moved frequently between many short term local authority care homes and institutions.
Never once was I given the opportunity to receive an education, nor ever assessed for my already abused and orphaned childhood.
A child care system that routinely neglected to provide even the most basic of academic education (one might I add that society demands in order to function, by their definition of normal) and primarily to be accepted without life-long prejudice and/or further neglectful complacency, from the very establishments that inflicts such harm on vulnerable children in the first place.
We as adults are pushed into living a life of consumerism, self sufficiency and personal independence, yet the governing authorities fail to see the how fundamentally such traumatic childhood experiences can and do detrimentally impact on someone’s ability to function normally within their vast, confusing and uncompromising set of rules.
If you don’t fit in (comply), you’re considered an outcast.
If you’re uneducated, you’re considered ignorant & foolish.
If you”re not self sufficient, you’re considered a ‘benefits scrounger’.
If you’re homeless, you’re just NOT considered at all.
When I was ejected from local authority care aged seventeen, I was dumped into a shared B&B room with a complete stranger, located in a town I didn’t know, then was promptly informed by a local social worker, that I had to claim unemployment benefits & rent, or I would be made homeless.
I wasn’t diagnosed until well into adulthood, but went through my entire childhood as an undiagnosed Autistic, also with Asperger syndrome. It’s only took local authorities some 36 years to come to these findings!
We are sorry to hear all this but glad to hear you finally got your diagnosis and hope you are now getting the support you need. All the best.
Since my earliest memories, I was afraid of something. At age four, a bully entered my life. A slightly older male cousin. He was rough and tumble. I was a boy that wanted to create. To learn piano. To draw, etc. I loved to learn.
The bullying made life a living hell. I hated going to school. Couldn’t concentrate for worrying about what would happen during recess. I often hid behind shrubs planted along side the elementary school building. My appetite was nil. Hardly ever ate the lunches my mother packed for me.
My dad told me to fight back. I didn’t know how. Was afraid.
During third grade year – I accidentally made the bully cry. It was in our house. My PTSD dad whipped me in front of the bully. I thought he’d be proud.
In sixth grade, the bully mentally coerced me into sex. I had no idea what sex was. He then spread rumors that I was a queer.
It was my first sexual experience. As I said – I had no idea what sex was when he raped me. (Late sixties in a small town.)
I suffered in silence for decades. And yes, there was an unwanted attraction to males. It’s all I knew about sex. And sex was only enjoyable if I was the submissive partner.
I’m sixty three today. My life is a wreck. I have faith in God – but have been hurt in “chu
Richard, what is holding you back from seeking support over this? It is never too late. Child abuse is tough, and sadly prevalent – statistics hover at 1 and 4 which means the reality might be even higher. And yet many people feel very lonely over it and ashamed and full of self-judgment, when really they are far from alone with the experience which was never their fault. And there are tons of support groups and counsellors out there these days specialising and helping you to navigate the long-term effects. In your case you were bullied as well, and also suffered what sounds a violent parental situation. So it’s a lot of trauma. But it doesn’t have to be a life sentence if you don’t want it to be. But it’s got to be you who gathers up his courage and reaches out for proper support, who decides he is done with being a victim of a past he had no control over. Nobody can do that part for you. Seek a support group, counsellor, or therapist in your area who deals with trauma and abuse. If you are on a low budget, talk to your GP for an NHS referral, or read our article on how to find low cost counselling here http://bit.ly/lowcosttherapy also there is a free hotline in the UK for seniors who need to talk, https://www.thesilverline.org.uk. We wish you courage!
Hello,
My Name is Ronald Spark. As a child I endured a lot of abuse in various forms. I found my way to deal with these things and muddle through. I just finished writing a book about some of what I went through and some of the ways I coped with not only the abuse but some of the more pervasive side effects of it as well. I have written it for people aged 13 and up. One of the worst things growing up was how alone I felt. I did not have the wherewithal to put things into words. I have been giving out links to a free PDF copy of my book to various organizations like RAINN so that it can get into the hands of people who need it. This is why I am writing today. The sad truth is that there are many people in the world who have suffered the same abuse as myself and whats worse is that there are many more children out there suffering from physical, mental and sexual abuse even as I write this. I am posting the link below so that if you read it and think it might be able to help one person you might consider posting the link on your website.
Thank You for Your Time,
Ronald A. Spark
Hi Ronald, we unfortunately have a strict policy about links in comments, so we’d had to take it out, but we’ve left in your full name so people can find you on the internet and request directly about your book, hope that helps. Best, HT.
Hi I am 49 years old and need help. I don’t think I’ll ever get help and I want it so bad. I was molested at 4, by 2 boys, molested DAILY by my step dad for 9 years. My mom caught him and stayed with him. I told on him a couple times and nothing happened. At 15 I did a grand theft auto and was arrested. They gave me counseling and I told on him. We got removed (me and my sister) and just last year, I was curious to see how much prison he got and found out he was aquitted at his arraignment. No one helped us. I have been self medicating my entire existence. I have zero support.
I have no hope anymore and I have no way to pay for services to help me. What can I do?
Hi Maureen, but you are still here. So somewhere deep down you must believe in yourself. Which you should. As none of this was your fault. It’s terrible he was acquitted. Now you need to find that spark of courage and belief and use to it find help no matter what. Make it non negotiable. We don’t know what country you are in, but most Western countries do have forms of free support. If you are in Canada or the UK, you need to speak to your doctor. Or use our guide to finding free to low cost counselling. http://bit.ly/lowcosttherapy If you are in America the ideas in the article still pertain. Call mental health charities, look at graduating students needing clinical hours, or join a free support group, for example. There is usually a group for survivors of sexual abuse in most cities. It can be terrifying to take the step. But no less terrifying than not taking it, right? Best, HT.
Hi I am interested in the comment Pamela made about trauma and IQ. I am training to be a teacher, and was in “gifted and talented” education as a child. However, I have experienced some trauma since then. I am not sure if my IQ has changed, but I know that my results in my undergrad were certainly affected. From the research I have done, nothing can permanently damage IQ aside from physical brain trauma.
I think IQ can be restored to your natural level with appropriate care.
I want to know, from your perspective, if there is anything that I can do as a teacher to help children achieve who have experienced trauma. Obviously, if they are currently experiencing trauma, that is a different issue which requires interventions.
As someone who is training to be a secondary teacher, how can I support adolescents who have previously experienced trauma. Is it possible to fully heal in your opinion. I believe it is, but I would like to know what your thought are.
Thanks!
Hi there, we are aware that this is a very well intentioned comment, and we think it’s wonderful as a teacher you are asking this question, if only trauma training was provided in all schools, what different world would we live in….! Teachers can and do have a life long affect on a person, for better or worse. But we want to share that ‘fully heal’ is a term we aren’t a fan of. It implies there is a good, ‘healed person’ and a flawed messed up ‘non healed person’. We are all on a journey, and each journey is different, there is no exact point where anyone goes ‘I have arrived! I am healed!’ Life isn’t like that. One thing gets better, another thing goes off, or we think we are over something, then ten years later we lose a loved one and all is triggered…. Making trauma a ‘bad, unhealed’ thing is unconsciously supporting a shame narrative. Trauma is part of many people’s lives and to survive there needs to be at some point, usually well into adulthood as a final step, once the anger and sadness is worked through, there needs to be acceptance or even embracing it. For some people trauma ends up being a gift that leads to them helping others — for example, if you look at the story of many big leaders, there is trauma in their past. And the trauma label can be tricky as it labels one group of people with ‘serious’ events but then others, who had series of difficult experiences and have symptoms of trauma, can be seen as not having trauma. We can’t say how each brain will process an experience. Two siblings can live through an experience and one can be resilient and the other can suffer. Or two children can be severely traumatised and one shows obvious symptoms and the other seems fine until their twenties when they suffer a breakdown. As for an adolescent getting over their childhood trauma. Again, it’s a huge word and depends on the individual. Something like sexual or physical abuse has been proven to affect the way a brain develops. That won’t just change back. We’d suggest the best thing that you can offer a child with trauma is acceptance and unconditional positive regard, or “UPR”, if you use our search bar you’ll find our article on it. This means believing in them and their inner resources. And believing everyone has the resources to cope, if they are given the right environment and support. This contrasts with seeing someone as lacking and needing help. It is instead about creating a supportive energy to give them the belief going forward that they have the power to help themselves. Often it’s just having that one teacher that sees a student past their behaviours and who truly believes that the student, despite appearances, is powerful and resourceful, and imbues the child with that belief…. that can lead them to later down the line still be around and still be believing they can find their way. Best, HT.