Your childhood is your formative years, and every person is a product of their environment. Your parents, the neighborhood you grew up in, the school you went to, even the friends you had will impact who you become as a person for better and worse. This is fairly common knowledge these days, and everyone understands to a degree how your upbringing and life circumstances will cause low self esteem, affect your mental health as an adult as well as your outlook on relationships, how you handle money, and even how you deal with stress.

What isn't common knowledge is the fact that childhood trauma has been found to have a direct link to your physical health well into the future. Whatever mental and physical trauma you deal with in your formative years will have rippling effects decades into the future. You would be at higher risk for substance use disorders, heart disease, interpersonal violence, a weakened immune system, self harm, lowered self regulation with intrusive thoughts, and more. This article will explore in depth how exactly childhood trauma has a link to your future health, and what you can do to mitigate the repercussions.

How Trauma Affects The Immune System

Several studies over the past few decades have explored how traumatic events in a person's childhood can disrupt the body's regulatory system. This in turn leads to immune dysregulation. it was found that people who experienced early life stress had increased stress sensitivity across their lifespan. They would have significantly more emotional reactivity to regular, daily life stresses as opposed to people who didn't have early life stress. This greater emotional reactivity was then correlated to exaggerated inflammatory responses to daily-life stressors. Let's take a deep-dive into how your immune system is affected by childhood trauma:

Inflammation

Chronic stress in your formative years affects your health by elevating levels of inflammation across your entire life. In a healthy immune system, your local inflammatory response is able to identify, target and eliminate foreign substances to maintain your physical health. However, chronic stress in your childhood leads to a heightened, systemic, chronic inflammation. This is associated with fatigue, disability, and numerous diseases. It has been linked to cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, periodontal diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer.

Inflammatory markers such as proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen are able to reliably predict increased morbidity and decreased quality of life in older adults. Since chronic stress in a person's childhood elevates their levels of inflammation throughout their life, they're more likely to have higher levels of the aforementioned inflammatory markers.

One of the issues faced by people who endured childhood trauma is hypersensitivity to stress. This disrupts the neurobiological development and alters the brain's autonomic stress response by increasing sympathetic activity and decreasing parasympathetic activity. This is correlated to increases in inflammation, not to mention that increased sympathetic activity has a role in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases. These autonomic processes have linked early life stress to more pronounced stress-induced Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal(HPA) axis activity. The HPA axis controls reactions to stress and regulates processes like digestion, immune responses, mood and emotions, sexual activity, and energy storage and expenditure. Due to the nature of the HPA axis in people with chronic childhood trauma, they have increased cortisol levels to the point of glucocorticoid insensitivity, which dysregulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines.

There are many different models which explore how exactly childhood trauma leads to increased inflammation in adult life. While the research is still being done, we can conclusively say that childhood adversity is directly related to heightened inflammation across a lifespan.

Infectious Disease Susceptibility

Several studies have shown that people who experienced chronic family stress as children were far more likely to suffer from likely to suffer from infectious illnesses as an adult. It turns out that a parent's chronic stress was associated with the child's enhanced natural killer cell function. There was a correlation between the enhanced natural killer cell function, and a higher frequency and rate of illnesses. We found that even low socioeconomic status in childhood and adolescence was associated with greater susceptibility to infectious diseases in adulthood. It was observed that an individuals susceptibility to the common cold in adult hood was inversely related to their childhood socioeconomic status which was measured by the number of years their parents owned their homes.

Vaccine Response

Yet another long-term consequence of childhood stress and adversity is that it can blunt your body's response to vaccines. These factors are still being studied, and the data which will arise from vaccinations carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic will be essential in postulating how much early life stress can modify vaccine response through the effect it has on mental health.

Tumor Environment

The immune system plays an important role in halting the progression of certain cancers, known as immunogenic cancers. The most common form of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, is one such cancer. Research carried out on basal cell carcinoma patients revealed that if they had been mistreated in their childhood by their parents, they were far more likely to have a worse immune response to the tumors, provided that they had experienced a severe life stressor in the past year. This may be because of a link to chronically heightened cortisol levels caused by childhood stress.

There is even suspicion that childhood trauma characterized by abuse, neglect, and a chaotic home environment is associated with inflammatory markers in breast cancer survivors. There were more significant behavioral symptoms and greater immune dysregulation evidenced by elevated IL-6 levels. However, more research needs to be carried out to determine if this is clinically relevant.

Trauma And The Risk Of Chronic Illness

We've already established that a traumatic experience can make you far more likely to suffer from immune system dysregulation, stress hormone imbalance, and inflammation. Aside from these issues, it turns out there's more than one life threatening illness you can be at higher odds of contracting due to adverse events in your childhood. Let's take a look at the ones that have the highest chance of impacting your well being:

Cardiovascular Disease

Many children who suffered child maltreatment seem to be at a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. In the article referenced, it was of particular note that people who specifically endured emotional neglect, emotional abuse, and physical abuse from early childhood seemed to be associated with the presence of cardiovascular disease. Some of the notable conditions were nocturnal drop in blood pressure and an increase in diastolic pressure and heart rate.

Even sexual abuse has been associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and certain subclinical CVD markers such as a greater thickness of the intimate carotid artery. There are even implications that sex-specific, trauma informed care is needed for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults who had childhood trauma.

Diabetes

Anyone who suffers a traumatic experience at a young age is likely to develop PTSD. Complex PTSD, as well as exposure to adversity in childhood puts these people at a higher risk for diabetes when compared to people who did not suffer these adverse childhood experiences. These links are still being studied, but diabetes practitioners will find it important to assess abuse history in patients and work to minimize risky health behaviors and increase stress management techniques in patients who experienced adversity to reduce their risk of developing diabetes.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

It has been found that people who reported childhood trauma were more likely to report gastrointestinal disorders in adulthood. Specifically, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. While studies haven't been able to prove that childhood trauma is the cause of these diseases, it cannot be denied that they are correlated. Digestion is controlled by the autonomic nervous system and cortisol, so one of the theories is that the elevated cortisol levels in people who suffered childhood trauma may affect the autonomic nervous system, which in turn leads to impaired digestive function. This is usually increased intestinal permeability, impaired absorption of micronutrients, abdominal pain and discomfort, and local and systemic inflammation.

Chronic Pain Conditions

People who have a history of childhood trauma are twice as likely to experience chronic pain as adults when compared to people without trauma. Specifically, psychological distress in adolescence seems to be intricately related to chronic and widespread pain in adulthood. They showed lower pressure pain thresholds which indicates hyperalgesia. There is also an indication that people who suffered this sort of trauma show generalized areas of pain sensitivity, which implies that their trauma plays a role in the augmentation of central pain processing. The most common chronic pain conditions which seem to have links to childhood trauma are as follows:

• Fibromyalgia
• IBS
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Chronic migraines
• Arthritis

Cancer

Individuals who suffered childhood physical abuse were associated with 49% higher odds of cancer. Even when controlled for age, sex, race, and other risk factors like childhood stressors, adult health behaviors, and adult socioeconomic status, this rate was almost entirely consistent. This implies that there is a link between childhood abuse and cancer. This is still only a preliminary study, and much more research is needed to understand the biological pathways, other risk factors, and potential ways to maintain well being in this scenario.

Mental Health Disorders

Several major psychiatric disorders have been correlated to childhood trauma. The main ones are:

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Major depressive disorder
• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Many children who experience childhood trauma have impacted emotional responses, substance use disorders, and even a reduced ability to carry out positive social interactions. Issues like substance use can worsen symptoms of borderline personality disorder, and even reduce the child's mental and emotional development, which has long-lasting effects on their interpersonal relationships well into adulthood.

Many of these disorders stem from disordered hormone levels, such as cortisol, oxytocin, and norepinephrine. This then can lead to a lifetime of anxiety and depression, as well as the aforementioned disorders.

Sleep Disorders Linked To Trauma

Childhood trauma has been linked to numerous sleep-related issues:

• Insomnia
• Nightmares
• Night terrors
• Sleep apnea
• Restless leg syndrome
• Difficulty staying asleep

So how does this arise? Current research points at a neurotransmitter known as GABA. This amino acid inhibits certain brain signals and decreases excitability in the nervous system. That means it plays an important role in reducing stress, anxiety, and fatigue. It was found that in people with high childhood trauma, they were likely to have reduced GABA concentration in their superior temporal gyrus. These reduced levels of GABA are what's currently suspected to cause sleep disorders in people with childhood trauma. By having less of GABA, they have higher stress, anxiety, and fatigue, a combination that leaves you exhausted but unable to maintain healthy sleeping habits.

Aside from this, research is still being done to determine how exactly these sleep issues arise. We aren't entirely sure of the pathways, but there is definitely a correlation. For now, let's take a deeper dive into the sleep related issues caused by childhood trauma:

Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Symptoms of insomnia were significantly more frequent in people with traumatic childhood experiences, such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect.

Nightmares

Nightmares brought about by PTSD often occur as intense, distressing, or vivid dreams that replay the traumatic events or aspects of it. These nightmares can happen frequently in people with childhood trauma, and often don't resolve without therapy.

Night Terrors

Night terrors are far more vivid than nightmares, and can often cause the person suffering from it to be restless, and even scream or show other signs of physical distress in their sleep. Waking up a person from a night terror can be dangerous, as in their half-asleep state they may believe that the things and people around them are dangerous. People with childhood trauma may live out their traumatic memories through night terrors.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is repetitive pauses in breathing, periods of shallow breathing, or even the collapse of the upper airway during sleep which results in poor ventilation and sleep disruption. Research has shown that childhood trauma involving physical neglect in particular is associated with apnea-hypopnea, an indicator of sleep apnea determined by polysomnography. This means there is evidence for an association of childhood trauma and poor sleep in adulthood due to sleep apnea.

Restless Leg Syndrome

This is the urge to move your legs when you're resting, which is brought on by a sensation of aching, tingling, or even crawling in nature. Research has shown that in people suffering from adverse childhood experiences, restless leg syndrome was far more likely to develop than in people with normal childhoods. This is due to their increased risk of developing central sensitivity syndromes.

Psychosomatic Symptoms of Trauma

Psychosomatic symptoms are physical symptoms which develop in a person despite there being no clear medical cause for them, and they appear to be influenced by the person's emotional state. If you've been suffering from unexplained aches and pains and doctors can't figure out the cause for it, and if you've suffered from significantly adverse childhood experiences, there's a good chance these are psychosomatic symptoms of trauma. However, psychosomatic symptoms can manifest in other forms:

• Nausea
• Constipation
• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Bloated stomach
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid pulse
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Increase in blood pressure
• Brain fog
• Headache
• Sweaty palms
• Chronic pain
• Neck and shoulder tension

A combination of psychotherapy and physical therapy would be considered the optimal pain management option for this scenario. Psychotherapy which users imagery, addresses the nervous system, and facilitates cognitive behavioral therapy is recommended, as this will give the patient the opportunity to address and work through unresolved emotional trauma that may be causing these psychosomatic symptoms.

Managing Trauma's Physical Effects

Dealing with the health conditions caused by childhood trauma is a difficult process, mainly because a lot of the long term physical effects caused by this can't be directly attributed towards child abuse and adversity. If you suspect that your illnesses and somatic complaints are due to childhood trauma, the onus is on you to insist your medical provider gives you the right care. Here are some key things you need to focus on:

Regular Checkups

We've established that childhood trauma can manifest in adulthood in many physical forms, and it isn't always easy to diagnose the cause. A person might even get used to their physical symptoms because they've been in chronic pain for so long that they got used to their discomfort. Getting checkups and health screening is essential to quantify any physical issues you're dealing with, such as:

• Chronic inflammation established through markers like C-Reactive protein
• Hormonal imbalances, such as high stress hormones like cortisol caused by chronic childhood trauma
• Blood pressure and cardiovascular issues
• Immune system disorders
• Mental health conditions

Exercise

Exercise is a key method when it comes to improving mental health, facilitating healthy dopamine release, and reducing chronic inflammation. Different kinds of exercises serve different benefits, and it's important to remember that even minimal exercise is monumentally better for you than no exercise at all. You'll want to focus on the following:

• Cardio (Aerobic exercises): Cardio exercises do wonders for offsetting cardiovascular issues. It can even reduce inflammation. Staying moderately active with just 150 minutes of cardio exercises every week is enough to bring about a change. If you don't want to go to the gym, brisk walks are a great alternative.
• Strength training: Doing exercises focused on strength will help you regulate stress hormones like cortisol and noradrenaline. A mere 20-30 minutes every day can even have a noticeable effect on anxiety and depression brought on by childhood abuse. It also improves bone and muscle health, which will have long term positive effects on your health, as well as reducing your risk for chronic diseases.

Nutrition

A healthy diet both in terms of caloric intake as well as vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients is essential to modulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, and support your mental health, all aspects which are affected by adverse childhood experiences. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to have a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods, which can help counteract the chronic inflammation likely endured by you due to child abuse. The nutrients you'd want to focus on are:

• Omega-3 fatty acids- Reduces inflammation, supports muscle growth and brain health
• Antioxidants- Protects you against oxidative stress and inflammation
• Vitamin D- Essential for regulating mood and supporting immune function
• Magnesium- Reduces stress and supports nervous system health

There are certain things you'd want to avoid as well:

• Processed foods
• Refined foods
• Trans fats
• Alcohol in excess

While these foods are acceptable in moderation, they can aggravate any physical symptoms you have.

Integrating Physical And Mental Health Therapies

With the stress reactions brought about in trauma survivors, a holistic approach to healing is essential. You can't treat your symptoms alone. There has to be a combination of preventive and curative care, as well mental and behavioral health services which can help resolve underlying developmental trauma which triggered these stress reactions to begin with. We've already mentioned the importance of regular health checkups, exercise, and nutrition in order to address physical health issues.

It's also important to involve mental health services to try and deal with any posttraumatic stress disorder or mental health disorders arising from early trauma. The gold standard for mental health services involving adults who suffered traumatic events in their childhood is trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. This is evidence-based, structured therapy which directly addresses the psychological impacts of repressed trauma. If left unaddressed, these psychological impacts can then manifest in physical psychosomatic symptoms.

Dialectical behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing can also help individuals process traumatic memories. Another issue that needs to be addressed is substance abuse and high risk behaviors which is often noted in adults who suffered adverse events in their childhood. Things like self harm, acting on intrusive thoughts, the desire to self medicate with alcohol and other substances, sabotaging both supportive relationships and romantic relationships, and other physically and emotionally harmful coping strategies have to be addressed through a combination of both physical and mental health therapies.

Often, medication, somatic therapies, and certain coping strategies are also required to deal with the extreme stress brought on by traumatic events. Activities like yoga and certain mindfulness practices have also been shown to have positive effects on trauma survivors. Clinical research shows that mindfulness-based interventions can be beneficial for addressing psychopathology among adults with a history of childhood maltreatment. The research isn't conclusive in how specific the effects are, but there is a correlation. Participating in meditative yoga practices increased self-compassion, gave a feeling of being centered, improved coping skills, built a better mind-body relationship, and enhanced interpersonal relationships in people who had suffered from traumatic events as a child.

Conclusion

Learning that the adverse events you experienced in your childhood is possibly one of the leading causes for your declining physical health is always a shock. That said, knowing what you're dealing with is the first step improving to health conditions. With this knowledge, you can approach a mental health professional to address the traumatic experience you've been through, as well as set up appointments to address symptoms you're currently dealing with and screen for any more life threatening illnesses. The stress response stemming from the trauma occurred from child maltreatment is unfortunate, but you don't need to let it define your health for the rest of your life. Take the first step to working on a better future for yourself.

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