Childhood Trauma and the Impact of Adulthood

Throughout the years, several adults have been affected by traumatic events that have taken place during their childhood(s). Lenore C. Terr (January, 1999) states, “Childhood trauma appears to be a critical etiological factor in the development of a number of serious disorders both in childhood and in adulthood.” To better understand childhood trauma, Terr defines this as, the “mental result of one sudden, external or a series of blows, rendering the young person temporarily helpless and breaking past ordinary coping and defense operations” (January, 1999). The statistics of childhood trauma is alarming. In the United States, there are approximately five million children that experience trauma each year, with two million of these cases resulting from sexual and/or physical abuse (Perry, 2002). Throughout this review, the author will be taking a closer look at Terr’s article, “Childhood Trauma: An overview and outline”. The author will also discuss the various characteristics of childhood trauma and the effects these factors have on human development in relation to adolescence and adulthood.

In the named article, Terr provides a detailed overview of childhood trauma and broadens the understanding of disorders that appear in childhood and adulthood. It is important to fully understand how adulthood is effected by childhood trauma. In order to accomplish this, it is best to first take a step back and look at the four characteristics common in childhood trauma.

The first of these characteristics is repeatedly perceived or visualized memories. Flashbacks of the traumatic event begin to occur through a smell, a position, or from a physical occurrence (Terr, 1999). An example of these memories can be seen in the author’s example of a client at her current employment. This client is an 18-year-old male who suffers from depression, sexual and physical abuse, oppositional defiance, self-mutilation, and hallucinations. This client was once observed on the floor in a cradle position, screaming and crying. Once the client was composed, he freely verbalized to the author what provoked this incident. Prior to this incident, another peer assaulted the client. Due to this assault, the client recalled the physical and sexual abuse he suffered as a child, which in turn, resulted in the screaming, crying, and cradle position on the floor.

The next common characteristic is repetitive behavior. Repetitive behavior involves reenacting different facets of the traumatic event most commonly seen though play (Terr, 1999). An example of repetitive behaviors is seen through another client of the author’s. This client is a 16-year-old male who suffers from depression, personality disorder, and sexual and physical abuse. This client is from Romania and had spent the first six years of his life in an orphanage where he was severally beaten and sexually abused. The client now reenacts his abuse through pretending his stuffed animals are prisoners and he is the police officer. He has been seen beating his stuffed animals, and telling them how bad they are. The client has also reenacted his sexual abuse is a very unfortunate way through becoming a perpetrator towards other peers and siblings.

A third characteristic of childhood trauma are trauma specific phobias. These are specific phobias that may range from a specific thing relating to the event such as a certain type of dog. There are also more specific phobias in which the child may fear anything related to the specific event, such as a fear of all dogs, not just one breed (Terr, 1999). These phobias may also be rather simple. An example of this is demonstrated through a 14-year-old female client. This client suffers from self-mutilation, and sexual and physical abuse. While living in a residential facility, the client has had to share a room with another female client. A situation occurred and the proposed client was placed in a room by herself. Unknown at the time, the client was afraid to be alone. Before expressing her fears, the client would act out during bedtime to ensure she would not be in her room alone. After several occurrences, the client was able to verbalize her fear of being alone due to previous rape incidences involving a family member.

The last of the characteristics of childhood trauma are changed attitudes about life, people, and future possibilities (Terr, 1999). The traumatized child may lose hope of a fruitful future, may despise a particular gender due to abuse, or may even desire close contact with the same gender of the perpetrator. A last example demonstrating a traumatic characteristic is through a 16-year-old female client. A male family member sexually and physically abused this client as a child. Although most sexual assault victims may avoid persons of the same gender of the perpetrator, as described above, there are also victims