{"id":5947,"date":"2020-12-11T12:41:38","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T17:41:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/compassionprisonproject.org\/?page_id=5947"},"modified":"2025-05-29T02:02:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T09:02:24","slug":"symptoms-of-childhood-trauma","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/compassionprisonproject.org\/symptoms-of-childhood-trauma\/","title":{"rendered":"Symptoms of Childhood Trauma"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Symptoms of Childhood Trauma<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Research has revealed that trauma produces actual physiological changes, including a recalibration of the brain\u2019s alarm system, an increase in stress hormone activity, and alterations in the system that filters relevant information from irrelevant.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

We now know that trauma compromises the brain area that communicates the physical, embodied feeling of being alive. These changes explain why traumatized individuals become hyper-vigilant to threat at the expense of spontaneously engaging in their day-to-day lives. They also help us understand why traumatized people so often keep repeating the same problems and have such trouble learning from experience. We now know that their behaviors are not the result of moral failings or signs of lack of willpower or bad character\u2014they are caused by actual changes in the brain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBessel van der Kolk\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n
<\/div> \n
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Hyper-arousal<\/div>

Increased heart rate, rapid or difficulty breathing, cold sweats, tingling, muscular tension.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Constriction<\/div>

Constriction in body and narrowing of perceptions.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Disassociation or Denial<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Feelings of helplessness, immobility and freezing<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Hyper vigilance<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Intrusive imagery or flashbacks<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Extreme sensitivity to light and sound<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Hyperactivity<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Exaggerated emotional and startle responses<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Nightmares and night terrors<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Abrupt mood swings<\/div>

\u00a0Rage reactions or temper tantrums, frequent anger or crying<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Shame and lack of self-worth<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Reduced ability to deal with stress<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Difficulty sleeping<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Panic attacks, anxiety and phobias<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Mental blankness or spaced out feelings<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Avoidance behavior<\/div>

Avoiding places, moments, activities, memories or people<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Attraction to dangerous situations<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Addictive behaviors<\/div>

Overeating, drinking, smoking, drugs, etc.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Exaggerated or diminished sexual activity<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Amnesia or forgetfulness<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Inability to love, nurture or bond with other individuals<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Fear of dying or having a shortened life<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Self mutilation<\/div>

Severe abuse, self-inflicted cutting, etc.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Loss of sustaining beliefs<\/div>

Spiritual, religious, interpersonal<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Excessive shyness<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Diminished emotional responses<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Inability to make commitments<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Chronic Fatigue or very low physical energy<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Immune system problems<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Psychosomatic illnesses<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Chronic pain<\/div>

Particularly headaches, migraines, neck and back problems<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Asthma<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Skin disorders<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Digestive problems<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Depression and feelings of impending doom<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Feelings of detachment, alienation and isolation (living dead syndrome)<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Reduced ability to formulate plans<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/i><\/div>
<\/div>
Re-enactment of the trauma<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>