Social defences
As social animals we use our relationships not only to grow and learn but to regulate our emotions. We are born with the capacity to reach out and to please others and to conform. However, if you are chronically traumatised you can feel you have to please others all of the time. Meeting your needs may feel very overwhelming for others too.
A downward spiral maybe set up.
Neglect or trauma in early childhood can impact on brain development.
Attachment difficulties lead to increased arousal and stress hormone production.
Poor attachment impacts negatively on resilience.
Attachment style impacts on relationships, increasing stress reactions throughout childhood.
Poor relationships impact socially and increase stress.
Then increased stress hormone production in adolescence reduces neuronal development of essential pathways of the limbic system.