Toxic stress has terrible effects on a child’s brain - Predisposing them to Mental Illness

News
1

We all know stress is bad, and excessive amounts of it affect people both physically and emotionally. Nowadays, many kids live in incredibly stressful conditions, and new reports prove this might scar them for life. Ongoing stress during childhood affects both the brain and several body functions of the kids.

If children face way too much stress, it might become toxic for them. This means that they start experiencing several changes in their brain, which then interfere with their learning abilities. If it persists, they are in danger of developing serious diseases later into adulthood.

There are many situations which can trigger such reactions in children. Living in poverty, as well as suffering abuse or neglect from their parents contributes greatly not only to their state of mind, but also to their body health. It’s hard to identify how many children have been victims of toxic stress, but many reports show the bad conditions which lead to the development of disorders.

How Stressful Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) impact Children - short 5 minute videos below

How to Increase Resilience in your Children - New Movie:

More information on the movie: (recommended for all families)

Videos on Stress and Brain Development below from Harvard’s Center for the Developing Child

Full PDF on How High Stress Can During Childhood Can Start the Path Towards Mental Illness:

Stress_Disrupts_Architecture_Developing_Brain-1.pdf (506.2 KB)

Related Readings:

http://stateschronicle.com/toxic-stress-child-brain-19411.html

Family Stressors and Traumatic Childhood Experiences Linked To ADHD Diagnoses In Children

Children who experience family and environmental stressors, and traumatic experiences, such as poverty, mental illness and exposure to violence (frequent parental fighting or yelling), are more likely to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), according to new research by investigators at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), titled “Associations Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and ADHD Diagnosis and Severity,” published in Academic Pediatrics.

Dr. Brown and co-investigators at CHAM used a nationally representative sample of 76,227 children from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health, to identify children 4 -17 years old whose parents reported both the presence and severity of ADHD and their child’s exposure to nine ACEs – socioeconomic hardship, divorce, death, domestic violence, neighborhood violence, substance abuse, incarceration, mental illness in the family, and discrimination.

Full story at this link:

2 Likes
2

Got bullied in primary through to secondary school ( ages 4-16) it was pretty horrific for me. I couldn’t escape it and my parents didn’t know. I used to want to not go , but my parents would send me there regardless but that’s not their fault … that’s supposed to be good parenting.

I made a few attempts , the first time I did I was 10. I think. Got really bad grades … I got to uni but I did I that with an access course.

Anyway don’t know anyone in my fam with this. Do think childhood stress was probably the cause.

1 Like
3

I was suffering for my parents discusions :neutral_face::disappointed_relieved:

4

I worry about my 8 year old daughter. We don’t live in poverty, and she hasn’t been abused, but she is constantly stressed out and anxious. We previously declined medication, but we have a new appointment scheduled with a pdoc for her.

3 Likes
5

My sister makes the argument that children who are put on psych meds are less likely to self medicate on street drugs.

Her boys who were medicated as teens have made fine adults in their twenties.

Jayster

4 Likes
6

I grew up in a neglectful, emotionally abusive, tumultuous environment, and I know that it affected my physical and mental health profoundly. My stress responses are dysregulated. I did not learn healthy habits. I have numerous mental illnesses. I am weak and sickly.

7

The area of scientific investigation called “epigenetics” sheds light on this. Epigenetic factors turn genes on or off, so there is a change in gene expression or the development of the organism(phenotype) without any actual change in the gene sequence(genotype). Epigenetic factors are pervasive: food, stress, toxins, drugs and various diseases can cause biochemical changes affecting gene expresion.

1 Like
8

When I was young, my parents fought violently almost every night and it caused my sister and I to fight physically, too. I remember my Father throwing my Mother into a television set one night. Needless to say, I grew up in a toxically stressful situation. Haven’t talked with my Father for nearly 20 years since the divorce. I think that positively shaped my eventual schizoaffective disorder eruption. I did not have a happy childhood.

9

Sorry about bad childhoods!

Jayster

10

I had a pretty toxic relationship with my dad when I was growing up, but I have since forgiven him, and I see him in a more positive light.

11

I think childhood stress left me barren.