We don’t really remember all the incidents that happened to us in our childhood but some intense experience creates a long-lasting impact. Childhood trauma is one such thing.

According to research, almost 80% of children reported that they have experienced more than one traumatic experience in their childhood. Though childhood trauma is a common thing, it sometimes has its impact on adulthood.

When a developing brain experiences any traumatic environment such as abuse, negligence, or fear, it creates extreme effects in adulthood. The trauma can be in any form, including physical and emotional abuse.

Still, it can lead to long-term stressful effects in adulthood.

5 Ways How Childhood Trauma Affects Adulthood

1. Mental Health Problems And Addiction

We sometimes think that our memories fade with time. But that is not the truth regarding childhood trauma.

In many people, childhood trauma leads to depression, anxiety, mental health disorders, and eating disorders – and most of those problems last longer than expected.

If a child is abused in childhood and did not get proper treatment, they are more likely to struggle with conflict resolutions. If the parents don’t take the abuse seriously, the child may grow up with poor stress management skills.

As a result, they tend to get addicted to drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism.

2. Attraction To Unethical Relationships

Children who experienced trauma in their childhood are more likely to get attracted to emotionally unavailable and abusive individuals. It generally happens because they find those individuals to fit their trauma identity.

Involving in any such relationship takes the person to a new cycle of trauma with past abusive memories.

Most of the individuals dealing with childhood trauma are aware of their requirements. However, they still choose to connect with abusive people due to their pattern from their childhood.

Even though they know that their relationships are abusive, they decide to stay in those relationships.

3. Loss Of Memories

Studies found that many individuals who have been through a traumatic childhood sometimes fail to remember a large portion of their lives. This is a common defense mechanism as the individual denies accepting their past events or fearing reality.

Sometimes loss of childhood memories happens as the individual avoids remembering the painful childhood trauma in adulthood.

4. Lack Of Social Skills

Children who have suffered from negative developmental experiences sometimes lack positive social skills. They also avoid relationships due to a reduced desire for closeness in adulthood.

Many adults turn into introverts, and sometimes they prefer to isolate themselves. These individuals tend to feel like they are hopeless and damaged to be involved in any kind of relationship with others.

Childhood trauma can lead to a lack of communication skills, social interactions, conflict resolution skills as the person feels they are unworthy.

5. Chronic Stress

Chronic or prolonged stress can be caused by traumatic experiences from childhood. Sometimes an individual’s physical health is affected due to childhood trauma and chronic stress in adulthood.

Traumatic experiences from the past can disturb the hormones and increase the risk of many diseases.

Additionally, when a person gets addicted to alcohol and other drugs, they suffer from many health problems to deal with the trauma.

Final Word

Whether it’s intentional or unintentional, childhood trauma must be taken into consideration. Parents must seek treatments, and it’s never too late to start helping a child deal with their childhood trauma.

The individual may undergo trauma therapy sessions in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood to prevent long-term adverse effects.