250 word respond to each respond (2) must include 1 APA refrence

Essay 2

Trauma and its Effects

Morgan Thomason

Liberty University

Trauma is a reality of the world we live in, a reality that is hard to accept. Webster’s Dictionary defines trauma as a deeply troubling experience. These experiences whether intentional or a result of life circumstances deeply disrupt development in children. We cannot begin to understand trauma until we understand stress. Stress is the part of trauma that causes prolonged issues. Long after the traumatic event is over, the residual stress stays in the heart and the memory of children, sometimes well into adulthood. Stress is defined as the emotional strain left over from troubling circumstances. Although all highly different, the effects of divorce, abuse, and poverty can all cause serious developmental delays in children.

The occurrence of divorce in a family can be devastating. Feldman (2007) states, “Only around half the children in the United States spend their entire childhoods living in the same household with both their parents.” (p. 336) This disruption of the foundational of the members family system can cause social maladjustment, such as fear of abandonment or inordinate distrust of otherwise trustworthy individuals. At the onset of divorce, children can experience serious behavior changes such as withdrawn or lashing out behaviors that weren’t typical of their pre-divorce selves. Another important aspect to the trauma of divorce, are the parents involved. In Joy Osofsky’s (2004) book on children and trauma she mentions, “…when a young child is traumatized, the parent or caregiver is also traumatized.” (2004) Parenting children who are experiencing the stress as a result of a divorce is traumatizing. Not only are the parents already traumatized, by a divorce, but now they are traumatized by the effects of said divorce on their children. This atmosphere of stress causes further social development issues as a child’s primary relationship (their parents) experiences strain. The child could be withdrawn, depressed, or start acting out.

Abuse and neglect cause major developmental problems in children. Osofsky (2004) explains that children come to expect that their relationship with their parents will be a positive, consistent one. When it turns out that it’s an abusive one, children have a hard times having positive relationships in the future (p. 4). Disruption of positive relationships as a child can cause emotional and social disorders throughout a lifetime. Osofsky (2004) also makes clear in her article that abuse is more prevalent among minority groups. Due to heightened violence (both seen and experienced) among African Americans, children in these homes are more likely to be abused, have trouble in school, and form positive relationships. (p. 6) She makes clear that the experience and viewing of violence causes prolonged emotional and psychological developmental delays (p. 14).

Poverty causes many unintentional developmental delays in children. While abuse and neglect can be avoided, poverty most of the time is an avoidable trauma causing experience. Parents working multiple jobs are not around as much to nurture their children as parents who only have one working parent, or a parent who works only part time. Parents in poverty experience high stress and anxiety, some of which gets passed on to children. In his article about stress and children, Carl Bell (1991) states, “When you look at poverty, you look at frustration, you look at lack of respect, but you also look at acquired biologic issues: the head injuries, the alcohol abuse, the deteriorating social fabric of the community, the anonymity all of it plays a role” (p. 188) Children of poverty deal with incredible stress. Feldman (2007) contends that children in these trying life circumstances are at a higher risk for psychological disorders such as depression, physical problems such as diabetes, and even cardiovascular disease.

In conclusion, children dealing with trauma also deal with serious developmental issues. The end of this research leaves me wondering, where is God in all of this? Where and when does redemption happen? Are we destined to live these lives of suffering and heartache because of the sins of our fathers? Proverbs 4:20-22 says, “My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.” We are a people in need of healing, in need of God. He is our only hope when life throws trauma our way. It is this hope that brings endurance into our circumstances. Spiritually, when the hope of Jesus Christ is thrust into a life, it brings endurance and healing. He is a God that the bible says binds up wounds, is close to the traumatized, and is a haven for the hurting. When it comes to soul healing for children dealing with trauma, the hope of Jesus Christ is the only answer for healing and redemption.

References

Bell, C. C. (1991). Traumatic stress and children. Journal of Health Care for the Poor

and Underserved , 2(1), 175-185. Retrieved from