What Childhood Trauma Actually Does To Your Brain & How To Heal

Your childhood upbringing plays a major role in your brain development. If you grow up in a happy, functional home, it supports the developing brain. However, when you experience childhood trauma—such as the death of a parent, neglect, sexual abuse, or other traumatic incidents—it negatively impacts the way your brain develops. Sadly, this can have lasting consequences on your mental health and cognitive function.

In the decades since that landmark study, the ACE questionnaire has evolved to include 10 questions covering:

In general, higher scores are associated with increased mental health problems and cognitive issues. They have a greater impact on brain development.

Being exposed to traumatic experiences as a child triggers overactivity of the brain's stress response system. This affects the brain in several ways, including:

If you have experienced childhood trauma, take note that certain therapies and lifestyle changes can help reduce the impacts. Suggestions that I often give to patients who have experienced trauma in childhood include:

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a powerful psychotherapeutic technique that can be helpful for childhood trauma survivors.

Working through adverse childhood experiences with a mental health professional can be beneficial in overcoming past trauma.

Seeking treatment for these issues can be an important part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

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Making physical activity a regular part of your routine increases blood flow to the brain to enhance its function.

Contributing to local charities or helping out in your community can improve social interactions and bonding.

With a comprehensive program, you can stop reliving the past and start moving forward in your life. You deserve it.