How Trauma and Chronic Stress Affect Developing Brains
Trauma is a significant, emotional shock that follows a single stressful event or a series of them. There are several types of trauma, generally differentiated by the duration and repetition of the associated traumatic events.That said, all traumatic events, environments, and experiences share one thing in common: they undermine a child’s sense of safety and stability.
They may include the following:[Read: An Overview of Childhood Trauma and ADHD]Researchers talk about potentially traumatic events in terms of “adverse childhood experiences,” or ACEs.
ACES may lead to the development of toxic stress, or excessive activation of the body’s stress response systems.1 Children who experience multiple ACEs have a higher likelihood of developing health issues and other adverse outcomes.2Trauma is complex and multifaceted.
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