Childhood trauma is something we wish no child would ever have to experience. The effects it has on a child’s mental health are repairable but long-lasting. There are four types of childhood trauma. In this blog, we shed light on all four of them.
The intent of this blog is not to ignite any disturbing memories of your life. We want to increase the number of informed parents. Every parent has to know the answer and a better understanding of the question:
What are the four types of childhood trauma?
What is childhood Trauma?
Childhood trauma an event or an incident that:
- Has happened in childhood
- It is emotionally distressing and
- Has long-lasting impacts on an individual’s mental health.
What are the four types of childhood trauma?
Different schools of thought and organizations have described different types of childhood trauma. On the basis of our research, we have gathered information about the top four most discussed types of childhood trauma. Let’s have a look at the four types of childhood trauma:
1- Bullying:
Bullying is something I can strongly relate to as well. Being a shy person in school I WAS ALWAYS BULLIED till I reached my University. I can never forget the groupings in my class. The same girl who used to be my friend one day would stop talking to me the next day because the popular girl in class had told her to.
That popular girl would most of the time be a teacher’s daughter. She was “untouchable” and nobody would dare talk against her. This lobbying at the school level gave her the confidence to do whatever she wanted.
This is what bullying is.
The physical, emotional,social and psychological harm deliberately provided by the more powerful person to the less powerful one.
- Early Childhood Trauma:
Early childhood trauma is among the most important types when discussing the four types of childhood trauma.It is because this childhood trauma affects children within a small age bracket. Children between the ages of 0-6 years are the victims of early childhood trauma.
Although early childhood trauma occurs at an early age yet the consequences are very long-lasting. Various adverse and traumatic events during the early years of a child can cause early childhood trauma.
Several researches explain the long-term impacts of early childhood trauma. In a case study, a 19-month-old girl witnessed the murder of her mother. The girl didn’t remember much. However, she started showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. This is how early childhood trauma affects the mental health of children. People believe they don’t remember anything but the traces and impact of the incidents remain.
- Complex Trauma
When discussing the four types of childhood trauma “complex trauma” is the one that’s most profound. However, I believe that each type among the four types of childhood traumas discussed is serious in its own references. Complex trauma involves a series of traumatic incidents. These can be in the form of:
Childhood abuse
Domestic violence
Neglect
Torture etc
Unfortunately, a lot of children around us are going through adverse situations and violence that go unnoticed. I remember a few months later I saw a video of a lady who went on a 14 day vacation with her boyfriend leaving her toddler girl behind. The girl died of malnutrition for a lot of reasons which would be too traumatic to even list here.
The neighbors told the police that they heard the girl crying but they didn’t even bother calling the police. I have been thinking about how the mother had been treating the poor girl prior to the incident.
A lot of kids grow up watching their parents fight and being abused by their siblings. The examples are endless, UNFORTUNATELY…
- Physical Abuse
Physical abuse among the four types of childhood trauma is the one that has a damaging effect on a child’s physical development. Physical abuse is the intentional use of force against a child. This use of force can cause injury to a child.
Children who go through physical abuse can have anxiety and depression in their later ages as well. Injury to the head can cause mental damage and illnesses. This type of early childhood trauma doesn’t spare any child no matter if he or she belongs to which class or ethnicity.
What’s even more distressing is the reason that millions of such cases go unreported. I have noticed that for a lot of mentally disturbed parents (I am sorry) kids are an easy target. There should be serious monitoring and laws so that no child has to suffer from physical abuse.
Now that you know the four types of childhood trauma I expect you to act as a responsible parent. Mother or father’s parent’s responsibility is to protect their children. They should provide them with a home that is filled with love , laughter and warmth.