When children experience a series of adverse life events, such as neglect, abuse, separation and loss, the development of their brains is affected. For some, this can mean their senses, emotions and behaviour are knocked off balance, and they seem ‘different’ to other children of the same age.
The following information, adapted from an image produced by Beacon House Therapeutic Services and Trauma Team, helps to explain the effects of developmental trauma.
Brain Area: Brainstem (Primitive brain)
Developmental Trauma:
Somatic/Sensory
Examples:
- Sensory processing difficulties
- High or low arousal (fight/flight/freeze/submit)
- Impulsivity and pervasive anxiety
- Impaired sleep patterns
- Poor muscle tone and co-ordination
- Taste and texture preferences
- Heart rate difficulties
- Abnormal breathing
- Unexplained medical symptoms
- Body flashbacks to states of fear
Moves up to…
Brain Area: Limbic Brain
Developmental Trauma:
- Attachment
- Emotional regulation
- Behavioural regulation
Examples:
- Clinging
- Oppositional
- Rejecting
- Distrustful
- Overly compliant
- Loss of expectancy of protection by others
- Loss of trust in social agencies
- Heightened emotions: anger, rage, fear, sadness, excitement, joy
- Deadened emotions: numbness, emptiness, low mood
- Re-creating traumatic situations
- Self-harming
- Aggression
- Running
- Hiding
Moves up to…
Brain Area: Cortical Brain
Developmental Trauma:
- Self-esteem
- Dissociation
- Cognitive problems
Examples:
- Information processing impairments
- Executive dysfunction (problems in planning, organising and executing)
- Inadequate problem solving
- Remembering and recalling information
- Identity confusion
- Flashbacks
- Disorientation
- Memory lapses
- Self-hate
- Self-blame
- Self-loathing
- Self-doubt
- Worthlessness
- Helplessness
Carers discussion
Carers describe how it can be difficult for children who’ve experienced trauma to describe how they feel:
Strong, safe and trusting relationships with adults and specialist therapy can help children to recover. It is also important that schools understand the effects of developmental trauma in order to support children in their education.
Listen to some carers describing how they talk to their children about their developmental trauma:
Real Life Experience
If you would like to share your real life experience on this page, please email tewv.vrc@nhs.net
