Physical Effects Of Childhood Trauma

Childhood trauma has been shown to affect the victim throughout his or her entire life. The developments of severe psychological disorders have been linked to early life traumatic events. In particular Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) are common in those with traumatic childhoods. These disorders will be identified and evidence presented to demonstrate that childhood trauma is directly linked and responsible for these deviations from typical development.
Childhood trauma can occur when a child experiences something like physical, sexual or emotional abuse are some of the most common types of trauma to cause lasting psychological damage. Other traumatic

Finally, a child who is suffering from PTSD is likely to be vulnerable to further abuse and will often inflict it on himself or herself as well as allowing it from others. This disorder develops specifically because of an inability to feel safe during the developmental years that results in an inability to feel calm and safe. The constant anxiety creates a hyperactive and mental state of worry. It also manifests with typical physiological indicators of stress such as headaches, behavior issues, digestive distress, general achiness and stiffness of joints, and difficulty breathing (Herman, 1992, pgs.

The indicators of BPD are dramatic and obvious. Those suffering from it tend to be significantly unstable in their interactions with other people as well as their behavior when alone. Impulse control and ability to discern moral decisions are significantly deteriorated in those with BPD and they are often destructive toward themselves and their relationships with others, if not outright violent. Casual contact with a sufferer of BPD might be deceptive because many are able to appear stable, but rapid and unpredictable mood and behavior shifts are common. Neglect and abuse, particularly sexual, are seen in almost all who are diagnosed with BPD. The lack of attachments during developmental years results in an inability to form or value attachments later in life. While reduced hippocampal volume is a brain deformation associated with PTSD as well as BPD, BPD also presents with a reduced amygdala volume which is possibly the cause of the notably increased aggression and reduced emotional stability of those with BPD (Lieb et al., 2004, pgs.