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Critique Paper on the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Children’s Well-Being and

Adult Behavior

Introduction

A traumatic event can be anything out of the norm that causes a person to feel
fearful, angry, or sad. As a result of feelings of violation and betrayal that may have
resulted from the traumatic interaction, the victim may be emotionally vulnerable. An
individual's ability to self-regulate may be disrupted by several types of emotions
(Barlow, Goldsmith-Turow, & Gerhart, 2017). If a child has been subjected to abuse or
neglect, the child's underlying belief system will comprehend that a secure attachment
style has not been established and that the youngster is unprotected, leading to
emotional reluctance. In the early years, a kid needs to feel secure and loved in order to
develop a sense of independence and confidence as they learn to navigate the world
around them and make mistakes on their own.

As a result of exposure to or encounter with adversity, the victim's neural


structure alters This is why it's not surprising to find youngsters who have witnessed or
experienced trauma displaying early signs of behavioral problems (Connell, Pittenger, &
Lang, 2018). This, in turn, increases the risk of psychological distress (Dye, 2018). This
research categorizes traumatic experiences into three categories: physical, sexual, and
emotional abuse. In this study, we evaluate the association between three
consequences of traumatic experiences throughout childhood that have been discussed
in earlier research: 1. Mood problems like depression and anxiety. Two, trouble falling
asleep. (3) Low sense of worth to oneself. There are other ways to deal with stress
besides the three listed below: First, an attitude of denial. Substances like alcohol and
narcotics being abused (3) Withdrawing into one's own thoughts.
Summary of the Results and Discussion

The participants in this study report having issues with alcohol and drug
addiction, denying the negative impact their challenges have had on their wellbeing
(especially if the challenges were inflicted by their parents), and constructing a false
self-image in order to cope with their experiences rather than isolating themselves. The
participants in this study also report having problems with denying the negative impact
their challenges have had on their wellbeing. Initiating trauma at a young age may be
responsible for the development of low self-esteem, and the symptoms of depression
and anxiety may manifest themselves as a result of feelings of inadequacy brought on
by these thoughts.

According to the findings of this particular study, having a restless night's sleep
as an adult does not appear to be a consequence of having encountered traumatic
events as a child. The degrees of socioeconomic class that people belonged to were
not found to have any association with the kinds of traumatic experiences that they had
been through as a result of the environments in which they were raised. However, the
financial circumstances did play a significant role in the influence that it had on the
availability of support services. This was due to the fact that the financial circumstances
had a large role. It was discovered that interventions, treatment plans, and social
support were crucial components in reversing the emergence of problematic behavior
and mental diseases, enhancing levels of resilience, and improving overall health.
(Downey and Crummy, 2022)

Connection to Course Material

Due to so many processes happening at the same time and having an effect on
other processes, it is becoming increasingly difficult to characterize certain parts of
human biology and psychology in a definitive manner. The study of the intricate
interplay between biology and the ways in which it influences our thoughts is the focus
of the academic discipline of biopsychology, which integrates theories and methods
from the fields of biology and psychology. When the biological component of our brains
isn't operating as it should, we can have psychological difficulties. In light of the
information presented in the article, it is essential to investigate not only the
physiological state of a human being but also the psychological characteristics of that
individual. It may be difficult for a person to reach out for professional help and come to
terms with their past if they are plagued by feelings of shame brought on by thinking
about their traumatic experiences.

In addition, the findings suggested that victims of childhood trauma may prefer to
develop a fictitious self-image, rather than isolating themselves, in order to conceal the
negative effect that their challenges have had on their overall health and happiness.
Although Shallcross, Troy, Boland, and Mauss (2010) found that trauma victims may
self-isolate in order to emotionally shield themselves from their past, it is possible to
argue that the motive to embrace an insincere character is also a way for one to protect
themselves from the mistreatment they have received in the past. This finding is in
contrast to what they found, which was that trauma victims may self-isolate in order to
emotionally shield themselves from their past. The findings illustrated that victims who
were neglected by their parents can create a false self because they have a low self-
esteem and feel that others will approve of them if they alter their personality. With that
being said, the findings showed that victims who were neglected by their parents can
create a false self.

Evaluation and Conclusion

People who have suffered severe childhood trauma often have low self-esteem,
along with sadness and anxiety. Some people refuse to acknowledge that they have
ever been traumatized, while others fabricate a positive picture of themselves or
become dependent on substances like alcohol in an effort to shield themselves from the
negative effects of their past experiences. Alongside adequate and individualized
treatment procedures, early interventions have the potential to lessen the symptoms of
trauma. Those who have overcome severe childhood trauma are more likely to struggle
with substance misuse, ignore the negative consequences their experiences have had
on their mental health, and fabricate an identity for themselves rather than fleeing into
isolation. Early-life trauma has been related to low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety,
all of which arise as a result of the associated feelings of worthlessness. It became
abundantly evident that interventions, treatment plans, and social support were
essential components in elevating individuals' resiliency and arresting the development
of problematic behavior and mental health illnesses.

A person's childhood can shape them in many different ways, which ultimately
contribute to who they are as adults. Regardless of the background of the child's family,
the majority of the difficulties that a child or teenager faces in life have to do with the
question of whether or not they are able to build good relationships with the adults and
other children in their environment. On the other hand, this is not the case for the vast
majority of people who have reached adulthood. As an adult, someone who
experienced traumatic experiences as a child may have a warped vision of the world
and a pessimistic approach to finding solutions to issues. One area in which childhood
trauma has had a significant negative affect is the increased propensity of adults to
struggle with issues such as drug addiction and depression. Adults who suffered
traumatic experiences as youngsters are more likely to struggle with substance abuse
and mental health issues as adults. People who have through traumatic experiences as
children need to talk to a trained medical expert in order to get help.

References

Barlow, M. R., Goldsmith-Turow, R. E., & Gerhart, J. (2017). Trauma appraisals,


emotion regulation difficulties, and self-compassion predict posttraumatic stress
symptoms following childhood abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect, 65, 37–47.
Connell, C. M., Pittenger, S. L., & Lang, J. M. (2018). Patterns of trauma exposure in
childhood and adolescence and their association with behavioral well-being. Journal of
Traumatic Stress, 31(4), 518–528.
Dye, H. (2018). The impact and long-term effects of childhood trauma. Journal of
Human Behaviour in the Social Environment, 28(3), 381–392.
Shallcross, A. J. Troy, A. S. Boland, M., & Mauss, L. B. (2010). Let it be: Accepting
negative emotional experiences predicts decreased negative affect and depressive
symptoms. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48(9), 921-929

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