Today, the lasting impact of childhood trauma on women’s mental health is more widely recognized, with doctors and researchers shining a brighter light on the various emotional, psychological, and neurological consequences of childhood trauma for women. With evidence pointing to childhood trauma’s connection to complex mental health issues among women later in life, including addiction, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and depression, evidence-based treatments for women who endured childhood trauma are necessary to the healing process.
The long-term impacts of trauma on women
For women, childhood trauma is a significant contributing factor to the development of long-term mental health and behavioral issues.
Childhood trauma can have far-reaching effects on brain development. With early exposure to traumatic experiences and stress potentially altering the structure and function of areas in the brain responsible for emotional regulation and decision making, like the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that helps with rational thinking, impulse control, and executive function. The PFC can become underdevelopment due to early childhood trauma, impairing a woman’s ability to make sound decisions and manage impulses.
The amygdala – a major processing center for emotions, learning, and memories – can become hyperactive as a result of prolonged exposure to stress hormones like cortisol, which releases when one is more prone to perceiving threats, even in relatively safe situations. For women who have experienced childhood trauma, this increased threat perception also increases their susceptibility to anxiety disorders and PTSD.
These neurological changes have been observed through neuroimaging studies that point to the structural differences in brains of individuals who have endured childhood trauma compared to those who have not. Reductions in gray matter volume have been shown in areas like the hippocampus (which helps with memory formation) and prefrontal regions (that help with decision making). These changes can lead to long-term struggles with emotional regulation, cognitive function, and interpersonal relationships.
Treatment options for trauma
One treatment option that is highly effective in helping the healing process from childhood trauma is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). For women who suffered from childhood trauma, TF-CBT can be particularly beneficial, as it addresses emotions that are often the result of trauma, such as feelings of shame, guilt, and fear, that can lead to anxiety, depression, or addiction in adulthood.
TF-CBT is a therapeutic approach tailored to support individuals work through their traumatic memories while also alleviating the emotional distress that can accompany these memories. The structured framework gradually exposes clients to their traumatic memories in a controlled and safe environment, allowing clients to confront and reframe their experiences and reduce maladaptive thought patterns and responses.
Another available form of treatment for women is attachment-based interventions, which focus on healing the deep-rooted attachment wounds that stem from childhood traumatic experiences, such as abuse or neglect from caregivers during early childhood years. The aim of this form of treatment is to rebuild trust and foster secure attachments within the therapeutic context, helping clients explore and understand how their childhood traumas shaped their current behavioral and emotional responses, as well as thought patterns.
A costly healing process
The healing process from childhood trauma can be costly, especially when women who experienced childhood traumas often need more comprehensive care that can attend to their psychological and physiological needs. In Australia, private facilities that offer specialized, trauma-informed care can be expensive, with charges upwards of $25,000 for a 30-day program and luxury options being even more costly.
While public rehabilitation services are more affordable, they often are accompanied by long waiting lists that can delay women’s access to crucial treatment. Such delays can be damaging for women who may be suffering from addiction. However, the cost of rehabilitation in Australia ultimately is dependent on the level of care required. Public funding and private health insurance can help offset some of these costs, but the financial burden remains a barrier for many in need of help.
