Behind the smile

Childhood trauma

Childhood experiences leave an indelible mark on us, whether positive or negative. When we have a positive experience, it shapes us positively; however, when we have a negative experience, it turns into trauma. Even though parents may say things like, "She was so young when that happened; she won't remember it when she grows up," childhood trauma can have a long-term impact on a person's life. While children are resilient, they are not invincible. Childhood trauma has an emotional, physical, and mental impact on us. Trauma affects children in a variety of ways. Physical or sexual abuse, as well as one-time events such as a car accident, a natural disaster (such as a tsunami), or being bullied, can be traumatic. Childhood trauma does not have to happen to the child directly. Observing a loved one suffer in front of you, for example, can be traumatic. In today's world, many children are exposed to traumatic events at some point in their lives. While the majority of them experience distress after a traumatic event, the majority of them return to their original state in a short period of time, while others are significantly less affected by their circumstances. Children with PTSD relive the trauma in their minds, conjuring up the same scenarios over and over again, which haunt them. Anger, anxiety, depression, trust issues, fear, low self-esteem, mixed emotions, fear of being alone, and self-harm are all symptoms of PTSD in children.