Trauma In Early Childhood

Childhood trauma is categorized as one of our countries most important public health issues. The American Psychological Association defines trauma as an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. Trauma can also be brought about by abuse and grief. Although most childhood trauma beings at home, many thousands also experience trauma due to community violence, accidents and while undergoing traumatic medical or surgical procedures (van der Kolk, 2005). Following the trauma are multiple stress disorders including, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depressive disorders, anxiety, learning disabilities and chronic physical health problems that children are often left with.
All children and more specifically,

Studies note that exposure to chronic traumatic experiences has the potential to alter children’s brains and could cause longer term effects in certain areas (Bremner, 2006). Attachment, physical health, emotional regulation, social awareness, dissociations and cognitive ability are some of the main areas that are affected following early life trauma. It is especially hard to distinguish trauma in infants because they do not have verbal communication skills as of yet. Examples of trauma in early childhood include disrupted attachment, cognitive delays and impaired emotional regulation (Perry, 2009). The brain has the most plasticity in infancy and early childhood. This can be so devastating due to the lengthy trauma in early childhood, but also as an encouraging outcome it can lead to interventions that can alter the brain in positive

However, most children develop multiple attachment figures and even though they are not equally pursued this can open the way for attachment to God. He also mentions in the readings that child. As a child gets older and proceeds into adulthood, spirituality becomes more prevalent. As adults, we tend to become more spiritual in times of distress and specifically during trauma. We look to God not only for love and guidance, but for answers as well. As adults we try to figure out why the traumatic event took place, when there needs to be more focus on how to move past this life altering event. In infancy and early childhood, that is when the child turns to the parents for protection and guidance. This then leads to a healthy and positive functioning in children (Roehlkepartain, 2016). Psalm 91:4-6 (NIV), “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at