This seems to be the
general consensus from several papers that I read on Childhood traumas, and how
it affects us. The first thing that I’ve learned that I find very interesting
severe psychological trauma, i.e. watching a young friend die of cancer or the
sudden loss of both parents, will trigger the “Fight or Flight” function inside
yourself. When the fight or flight instinct is triggered inside a child’s body it
begins to produce high levels Cortisol. These levels of cortisol can do one of
two things, it can either allow the child to take action and survive what has
happened. Or, in “extreme levels” if too much cortisol is in the body of the
child is can alter the brain development and actually destroy brain cells.
This
I find very interesting and it makes me wonder how do you know what the levels
of cortisol a child has? I’m sure there’s ways to test for this, but are there
ways to counter act these levels of cortisol? If there are why isn’t this
something that is more widely known about, why when a child is going through
something so emotionally traumatizing aren’t our pediatrician’s recommending that
we look out for this and counter act it before it gets to the dangerous levels
that the brain cells are being destroyed?
Works
Cited
Barclay, Rachel. “Stress
and Trauma in Childhood Affect Gene Expression for Life.” Healthline.com
2014. WEB. 12, March, 2016
Moroz, Kathleen J. “The
Effects of Psychological Trauma on Children and Adolescents.” Report
Prepared for the Vermont Agency of Human Services. June 30, 2005. Print.
I really like your Flight, Fight, or Freeze diagram. It nicely explains how these options present themselves. I wonder if there is a difference in how fight or flight presents in children versus adults. I suspect it is more subtle. Children depend on us adults so wholly. I also wonder if freeze or flight is a more likely response as opposed to fight.
ReplyDeleteI did a quick Google search to find that home Cortisol level saliva tests are easily available on amazon.com. Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/AM-Cortisol-Hormone-Imbalance-Testing/dp/B004BT8FGC If a high Cortisol level was present, what is the next step? How can this be alleviated?
I found it interesting that an experience can kill a Childs brain cells. Obviously it will change their life because of what that saw at such a young age, but to actually lose brain cells from an experience as a child.
ReplyDeleteIs their an easy and affordable way to test a Childs Cortisol to see if it is to high and might be killing brain cells. Is their an affordable way to reduce the amount of Cortisol without doing harm to the child another way?
I agree if their is a way to counteract the amount of cortisol why aren't doctors recommending we be careful of this.