Childhood trauma that specifically includes abuse, neglect, lack of affection, and attention leaves deep wounds with long-lasting scars in the form of depression and other problematic behavioral habits and changes. Even when an adult seems okay while growing up and looks like they have their life together and it probably does not affect them as much, even then, they are silently suffering because they have put up a mask of fakeness to face their everyday life. In this blog, we’ll learn more about how trauma and abuse cause depression.

Emotional Dysregulation

Children who experienced trauma or abuse in their childhood often develop irregular sets of emotions and face difficulty in controlling them or even conveying them. Either every emotion they feel is extreme like fear, anger, or sadness, or all of them are close to no reaction that creates an imbalance in adulthood. This emotional imbalance is one of the main side effects of childhood abuse and contributes the most during depressive episodes and breakdowns.

Negative Self-Perception

Children who grow up in a dysfunctional family or face abuse, usually think that they are not good enough and they constantly remind themselves of things they couldn’t succeed at rather than appreciating their hard work or accomplishments. The core reason behind self-loathing is that they have always heard insulting and demotivating words from their parents and it subconsciously created a negative image of their own selves. It also makes them believe they are unworthy of love and happiness

Chronic Stress and Anxiety

Childhood trauma often results in chronic stress and anxiety, which can continue into adulthood. The constant state of alertness and fear wears down mental flexibility. Individuals may also develop dangerous coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse, further increasing the risk of depression. The fact that people don’t even realize their state of chronic stress and anxiety is alarming because they get used to being in that state all the time.

Triggering of Traumatic Memories

Adult life events can trigger memories of childhood trauma and cause emotional flashbacks. These triggers can lead to a reappearance of depressive symptoms, even after years of stability. The inability to escape these intrusive memories continues the cycle of depression.

Conclusion

In conclusion, childhood trauma isn’t easy to overcome even if you have succeeded in coming out of it somehow. Trauma affects adulthood and creates difficulties in the life ahead but you can always get motivated and learn more about how to regulate those emotions and lead a better life. You can also read books like “Rising Up: A True Story of Childhood Abuse” by Nancy Pusateri and learn how she came out of her childhood trauma. Nancy Pusateri’s book is a powerful, raw journey through unimaginable pain and resilience. The book begins by introducing Nancy’s roots, tracing her family’s migration from Greece to the United States, setting the stage for the story shared ahead in the book.

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