Traumatic Experiences

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Traumatic experiences can effect an infant or a child in ways that are long-term. Trauma can take many forms. According to the Oxford dictionary, trauma can be a deeply distressing or disturbing experience or a physical injury (Dreary & Brown, 2007). Both of these types of trauma can have a negative effect on the person that the child grows up to be. Unfortunately some infants experience trauma while in the womb. This can be a result of the mother abusing the fetus by smoking while pregnant. Even though there is a lot of literature and warnings about smoking during pregnancy it is still something that occurs today. Smoking during pregnancy can have long term consequences on the fetus. Infants that are exposed to smoke while in the …show more content…
These experiences can include divorce, maltreatment, family violence, or accidents. The more of these types of events that a child is exposed to the more likely they are to experience negative behavioral and health issues into adulthood (Broderick & Blewitt p.155).
Violence or abuse against the mother can have an extremely traumatic effect on an infant or a child. Witnessing these acts of violence toward their mother can long-term emotional and behavioral effects which are often more severe than other traumatic events. Fortunately, if the mothers were able to maintain being caring, attentive, and compassionate caregivers the child’s likelihood of reactivity will be decreased. (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015, p. 156). Sadly, some caregivers choose to use violence and abuse toward their children. These abused children form insecure attachments to their caregivers. These children often follow the disorganized-disoriented model of attachment. This model is when a child is upset and is inclined to get their parent’s attention but once the caregiver approaches them, the child avoids them (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015, p.
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This can cause problems with organizing, lying, impulse control, and behavior and emotional management. A traumatized child is generally unable to trust their environment and often respond with the fight or flight in situations that they perceive as threatening (Sternberg N.d). Spiritual development can ease and counter the effects of trauma. Developing spiritual beliefs and faith often gives people a sense of purpose. This is how many people are able to cope with hardships. Spirituality can have an effect on mental states (Dowshen 2014). Praying gives a sense of calm. There is a part of the brain often called the God part. Praying and the God part of the brain can calm an anxious mind (Brooks 2014). Infants and children that have experienced trauma can feel the effects of it throughout their lives. The reaction to the stress of the trauma alters the chemicals and neurobiology of the brain. The brain isn’t fully developed until the person is an adult therefore stressors or substances that are encountered before the brain is fully developed will prohibit the brain from correctly developing. The goal of a parent should be to prevent all preventable trauma to their children. As it says in Isaiah 54:13 “All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your

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