The Hidden Effects of Childhood Maltreatment and How life
Coaching Can Help
Violence against women is one of the primary health problems
facing adults today. Many people are not aware that childhood
maltreatment is a powerful risk factor for health problems in
adulthood. Its victims can suffer lifelong health effects.
Maltreatment is best viewed as a risk factor for a wide range of
subsequent health problems. Were you neglected, sexually abused
or physically abused as a child? An important step is to face
the truth about how you suffered as a child. Health effects have
to be assessed within a developmental perspective. There are
several avenues by which abuse can affect health.
The first avenue is physiological. Traumatic events can alter
the brain and body. The human system of self defense becomes
disorganized and overwhelmed. Traumatic events produce profound
changes in physiological arousal. The nervous system becomes
sensitized and comes to anticipate trauma. There can be dental,
vision or hearing problems. An adult can suffer from headaches,
backaches, chest pain, pelvic pain, chronic pain and fatigue.
A second way that abuse that affect health is behavioral. Adult
survivors may engage in harmful actions or behaviors and become
very self destructive. Some behavioral examples are self-injury,
shame, suicide attempts, eating disorders, high risk sexual
activity, compulsive spending and gambling and substance misuse.
These behaviors may be used to numb feelings so the pain can be
coped with. These high risk behaviors can impact health.
A third avenue is cognitive - child abuse is associated with
distorted beliefs and perceptions about one's self and one's
behaviors. These negative beliefs can undermine health and lead
to low self-esteem, self blame and feelings of worthlessness and
inadequacy. It may be common for adults to have perceptions of
helplessness, chronic danger and consequent hyper-vigilance. An
adult may become shamed-based and feel they are worthless,
unacceptable and bad. This vicious cycle can drive a victim
inside a private world of suffering, loss of power,
re-victimization and deep self doubt. Beliefs can certainly
impact health.
Interpersonal difficulties is another avenue. Adults survivors
can have difficulties in their adult relationships. Examples
include difficulties in trusting others, inability to set
boundaries, avoidance of intimacy and close relationships and
sexual difficulties. These difficulties can result in social
isolation, marital disruptions and divorce. Past maltreatment or
victimization can set up an adult victim for relationship
failures. This can lead to poor health outcomes.
Finally, the fifth avenue can be in the area of emotional
difficulties. An adult victim can have anxiety, fear, terror,
and sadness. They may adopt a position of surrendering to life
and feel they are abandoned to their fate. They may develop
antisocial behaviors that isolate them in relating to others. An
adult may suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which can
significantly impact daily life. Another result could be
depression and that disorder can have a devastating affect on
health.
A history of childhood victimization and maltreatment can have a
significant impact on adult health. It can be associated with a
range of difficulties in adulthood.
Developing healthier coping skills is a major focus of personal
coaching with an adult who has this history. Coaching can assist
an adult in managing stress more effectively. Personal coaching
can help an adult to learn to nurture and care for themselves.
There is alot of power in self care. You deserve to live a most
joyful and healthy life and personal coaching can assist you on
your path to extreme self care and wellness.