Links between Childhood Trauma
and the onset of
Physical, Emotional and Psychological Disease
There is increasing evidence that emotional trauma in childhood is implicated in later life in a number of diseases. Set out below are some of the physical, emotional and psychological illnesses that may be linked to unhealed trauma.
About the authors cited:
Charles Whitfield MD
Dr Whitfield is a qualified medical doctor, psychiatrist and psychotherapist in the USA. Since the early 1980’s he has been researching and writing on the multi-level effects of childhood trauma.
One of his most recent books : Co-Dependence: Healing the Human Condition contains a wealth of research on the identification of, and recovery from, childhood trauma and is a useful handbook for both health professionals and also those actively taking part in their own recovery.
Peter Levine PhD
Peter Levine is currently researching both the effects of trauma and also the most efficient ways to recover. He is the author of Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, a book that gives detailed information about some of the biological mechanisms involved in trauma & recovery.
Listed below are some of their findings. Other leading researchers are now beginning to explain exactly how childhood trauma damages the brain, immune, cardio-vascular and hormone systems and so leaves the adult survivor with some or all the following significant life limiting problems.