Yhomit adjustments

Azurdee Brown

Liberty University

Trauma, Development, and Spirituality

Childhood development is one of the most significant stages of growth and development. At this stage, a child learns from the environment and acquires the appropriate skills and behavior through the learning and interaction process. It is noteworthy that the childhood stage of development forms the framework that determines how a child would respond to different stimuli from the environment. In this manner, children should be provided with the uttermost care to enable them to integrate successfully into society. However, there are certain experiences and events that can hinder the proper emotional, mental, or psychological development of a child such as trauma. Trauma can be as the emotional and mental response to an unpleasant or difficult emotions. Traumatic experience involves any events that pose a threat to life such that one feels helpless and insecure in the world. Examples of traumatic experiences include violence, sexual and physical abuse, accidents, natural disasters, grief, terrorism, and intense medical experiences.

Types of Trauma

There are different types of trauma that can affect an individual. In the first place, there is complex trauma that involves the exposure to simultaneous unpleasant experiences. They involve experiences such as physical and sexual abuse, neglect, domestic violence and psychological maltreatment. Such a chain of events leads to a child experiencing the feelings of emotional dysregulation, loss of direction, and the inability to respond to dangers cues. Furthermore, there is early childhood trauma that involves traumatic experiences that children between the ages of zero to six years undergo through. Early childhood trauma can be of various forms such as intentional violence, response to painful medical procedures, or natural disasters. Thirdly, there is medical trauma that involves reactions that children and adults have towards pain, injury, or invasive medical procedures. Furthermore, there is the traumatic grief that involves trauma caused by the death of someone important in a child’s life. In this aspect, a child experiences both trauma and grief (LESTER, aWONG & HENDREN, 2013).

Symptoms and Effects of Trauma in Childhood Development

There are various symptoms of emotional, psychological, and physical trauma. In the first place, there is feeling sad and hopeless such as in the case of grief or loss of a loved one. Secondly, there is guilt, shame, or self-blame whereby a child blames himself for all the events. Thirdly, there is fatigue, aches, and pain, difficulty concentrating, withdrawal from other people, shock, denial, or misbeliefs. Additionally, there is edginess and agitation as well as being startled easily. Lastly, there is the symptom of insomnia or nightmares. Markedly, traumatic experiences have the effect of hindering the normal development of a child. Further, it can have an effect in forming relationships, interaction, and in behavior. Another element to note is that traumatic experiences lead to a negative self-concept or future orientation (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. 2014). For this reason, it is significant that proper help to be provided for children and individuals who have undergone traumatic experiences.

Spiritual Development and the Effects of Trauma

According to Van Deusen & Courtois (2015), spirituality refers to the inner belief system that places an emphasis on a connection that transcends to the self. It is worth mentioning that spiritual development can counter the effects of traumatic experiences. It can be achieved in the manner which an individual can find meaning out of a traumatic experience. Furthermore, victims of traumatic experience can embark on a journey of spiritual self-discovery. In most cases, spiritual development can be beneficial in the manner that it can assist an individual to have renewed faith in a higher being for surviving an unpleasant experience or event. The study has revealed that victims who had a high spiritual development had the ability to have better adjustments after a traumatic experience and higher resilience (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. 2014).

Reference

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2014). Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services.

LESTER, P., WONG, S. W., & HENDREN, R. L. (2013). The neurobiological effects of trauma. Adolescent Psychiatry, V. 27: Annals of the American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry, 27, 259.

Van Deusen, S., & Courtois, C. A. (2015). Spirituality, religion, and complex developmental trauma.