What Happens in Childhood Doesn’t Always Stay There

We often say “kids are resilient.”
Yes, they are. But they’re also impressionable—like soft clay that takes shape based on how it’s handled.

So when someone comes into my clinic, struggling with self-worth, trust issues, or chronic anxiety, one of my first questions is:

“Tell me a little about your childhood.”

Because often, the answers lie way back, in the early years—sometimes too far back for the conscious mind to remember clearly.

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🔍 Understanding Childhood Trauma

Childhood trauma refers to emotionally painful or distressing experiences that overwhelm a child’s ability to cope.

This may include:

• Physical or emotional abuse
• Neglect or abandonment
• Domestic violence
• Parental mental illness or substance abuse
• Loss of a parent or sibling
• Sexual abuse
• Bullying or emotional invalidation

The kicker?
Children often can’t understand or express trauma—so it burrows deep, shaping beliefs, emotions, and behaviors that echo into adulthood.

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🧬 Pathogenesis: How It Affects the Brain and Body

Here’s the science-y part, but I’ll keep it simple.

When a child faces trauma repeatedly, the brain gets “wired” to be hypervigilant. The amygdala (the fear center) becomes overactive. The hippocampus (memory) and prefrontal cortex (rational thinking) take a hit.

The result?

• The child grows into an adult who’s always in “survival mode”
• Calm feels unfamiliar. Peace feels suspicious.
• Relationships feel unsafe or overwhelming.
• Self-worth remains fragile

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📊 Epidemiology: How Common Is Childhood Trauma?

• According to global data, at least 1 in 3 adults have experienced significant childhood trauma.
• In India, the numbers are underreported, but an estimated 40–50% of psychiatric patients have trauma histories.
• Women report higher rates of sexual abuse and emotional neglect.
• Men underreport due to stigma but often show trauma through aggression or withdrawal.

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🧪 Etiology: The Roots of Trauma

Trauma doesn’t always come from what happened—sometimes, it’s about what didn’t happen.

Things like:

• Not feeling seen or heard
• Lack of emotional attunement from caregivers
• Having to “grow up too fast”
• Being the “fixer” or “parentified child”

Trauma also runs in families. Parents who didn’t heal their own wounds may unknowingly pass them down. I’ve seen this across three generations in some families.

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💥 How Trauma Shows Up in Adulthood

Here’s where it gets real. Adults who faced childhood trauma may experience:

1. Relationship Problems

• Fear of abandonment
• Trust issues
• Attracting emotionally unavailable partners
• Difficulty setting boundaries
• Love feels unsafe, or too intense

2. Emotional Dysregulation

• Mood swings
• Outbursts of anger or deep emotional shutdowns
• Panic attacks or chronic anxiety
• Depression that doesn’t improve with just medication

3. Body Symptoms (Somatisation)

• Chronic fatigue
• Headaches, IBS, unexplained pain
• Sleep disturbances

4. Addiction and Escapism

• Alcohol, drugs, food, or overworking to numb pain
• Social media or binge-watching as a coping mechanism

5. Identity Confusion

• Constantly questioning one’s worth
• People-pleasing
• Difficulty making decisions
• Feeling like something’s “wrong” with you

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🧠 Disorders Linked to Childhood Trauma

Many adult psychiatric conditions are deeply rooted in unresolved trauma:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance
• Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
  Emotional flashbacks, identity confusion, relational instability
• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
  Abandonment fears, unstable relationships, emotional swings
• Depression & Anxiety Disorders
  Often chronic, treatment-resistant without trauma work
• Dissociative Disorders
  Feeling “disconnected” from body, time lapses, identity confusion
• Substance Use Disorders
  Trauma is often the hidden root of addiction

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💬 A Real Case (Name Changed)

A 32-year-old man, let’s call him Aman, came to me with anxiety and relationship failures. On the surface, he seemed successful—but inside, he felt lost and hollow.

Through therapy, he recalled feeling “invisible” as a child. His parents were emotionally distant. Every time he felt sad or scared, he was told to “man up.”

This emotional neglect left a deep imprint.

Only when we processed his childhood pain did his adult symptoms start improving. His healing began not in the present, but in his past.

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🛠️ So… How Do You Heal?

1. Recognize the Pattern
   Awareness is the first step.
2. Seek Professional Help
   Trauma-focused therapy (like EMDR, inner child work, or somatic experiencing) helps.
3. Don’t Just Medicate—Integrate
   Medication helps with symptoms, but therapy helps with the root cause.
4. Create Emotional Safety
   Whether in relationships or with a therapist, safe space is essential.
5. Learn Self-Compassion
   You were a child. You did the best you could.

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☎️ Need Support?

If any part of this blog resonates with you—don’t ignore it.
Unhealed trauma often whispers… until it starts to scream.

We at Mind & Mood Clinic, Nagpur specialize in trauma-informed care.
You deserve peace. You deserve healing.

📞 Contact: +91-8208823738
Dr. Rameez Shaikh, MD (Psychiatrist & Counsellor)

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📄 Disclaimer

This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma or mental health issues, please consult a licensed psychiatrist or therapist.