The simplest definition- an injury – physical, emotional or mental. Traumatic experiences often involve a threat to life or safety, but any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and isolated can result in trauma, even if it doesn’t involve physical harm. 

 While traumatic events can happen to anyone, you’re more likely to be traumatized by an event if you’re already under a heavy stress load, have recently suffered a series of losses, or have been traumatized before—especially if the earlier trauma occurred in childhood. Many adults who suffer from substance disorders and/or mental health have unresolved emotions that stem from traumatic experiences from their childhood. 
Take the Trauma Ace quiz and see if childhood trauma may have affected you.

Experiencing trauma in childhood can result in a severe and long-lasting effect. When childhood trauma is not resolved, a sense of fear and helplessness carries over into adulthood, setting the stage for further trauma. However, even if your trauma happened many years ago, there are steps you can take to overcome the pain, learn to trust and connect to others again, and regain your sense of emotional balance. Learn more here.

Why do some people who experience childhood trauma learn to thrive as an adult?  Childhood resiliency can make the difference in how trauma and life’s stressors affect children. While many factors contribute to childhood resilience, three stand out: 

• Cognitive development/problem-solving skills

• Self-regulation

• Relationships with caring adults

To learn more on childhood resiliency visit SAMHSA and get involved in the Coalition for a Healthy Middletown and learn more about Parenting for Prevention.

Visit our Prevention Info and Resource page to learn more on drugs and addiction.