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Trauma

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TRAUMA AND ITS EFFECTS ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Quinta S. Anderson
Liberty University

Trauma and the Effects on Human Development Trauma has a way of effecting everyone, but in different ways. The term trauma often described both the traumatic event and the early distress that it could cause. Several researchers describes traumatic events as unexpected events, such as exposure to natural or manmade disaster, or observing violent crimes, events that are more lingering in nature, such as participating in combat or being the victim of physical and or sexual abuse or assault. Another name for traumatic events is called traumas. Traumas can also be classified as the scope that can have a huge impact on an individual (Shaw, 2009).
The Effects of Trauma on Neural Development Researchers have found the correlation of trauma and the effects it has on the human brain. The amygdala and hippocampus are parts of the limbic system that helps process the sequence of one’s life story. During the normal course of an individual’s life, the amygdala and hippocampus are able to process both the event and the emotions attached to a traumatic event. The amygdala records the emotions and bodily sensations of an individual. After the emotions and bodily sensations have been recorded, they are retrieved by the hippocampus. The hippocampus role is to add cognitive meaning and place the information that is processed into appropriate context. As soon as the hippocampus has stored the context, the information can be permanently stored in the cortex as explicit memory. However, during trauma the processing of the memory does not happen in this manner (Simington, 2013). During traumatic events, the amygdala records the extremely charged emotions and sensations, but if the trauma is severe enough the hippocampus can become overcharged and shut down. As a result of this, the traumatic event is not recorded as the explicit memory, but instead it only recorded as implicit memory in the form of highly charged emotions and sensations. The implicit memories are usually unassembled and are often frozen in time, but never participating into the individual’s life story. However, when an implicit only memory arises, it is experienced while one is in full consciousness, but without the sensation that something from the past is being remembered (Simington, 2013). Feldman suggested that children who are victims of psychological maltreatment and physical abuse produces negative moments which causes everlasting changes in the brain due to the abuse. Reportedly, when a child has experienced stress, fear, and terror from being abused it causes the brain to change permanently, due to overstimulation of the limbic system (Feldman, 2011).
The Effects of Trauma on Spiritual Development Spirituality is practiced amongst the vast majority of people in America. However, the effects of trauma could cause one to have disconnections with their spirituality after experiencing a traumatic event. According to Simington, trauma has been considered as the spiritual disconnection. When an individual experienced during and following traumas could cause the person to experience the “dark night of the soul.” During this time, one will describe their traumatization as the soul pain they have experience during the time of their traumatic response. Throughout this phase, one will start to ask question such as “Why did God allow this to happen to me?” and “What am I to do with the rest of my life?” Some people believe the trauma has broken their spirit. While others, feel that a large part of them has remained at the scene of the trauma. As a result of this, one will no longer feel whole or complete (Simington, 2013).

Prevalence of Different Types of Trauma and Amongst Different Cultures Everyone reactions to trauma are different with regards to their prevalence. Shaw suggested that the most common forms of trauma over a lifetime includes witnessing a person being injured or killed, the exposure to a natural disaster, experiencing a life-threatening accident or illness. A lifetime of prevalence is found to be higher among men than women; however, many forms of trauma have higher rates among women. Those forms of trauma normally consist of rape, sexual molestation, and childhood abuse and neglect (Shaw, 2009). Researchers have suggested that race difference in the prevalence of exposure to traumatic events is mixed. Data have shown that most traumas amongst Caucasians are higher in rates and other data have shown no race differences for majority of traumas (Shaw, 2009).
Conclusion
Traumatic events happen to everyone at least once in their life. Being exposed to traumatic events is an unavoidable portion of life. Nevertheless, the more knowledgeable we as society become aware of how people react to trauma; the more effective we can be to helping someone recovery to a healthier lifestyle.

References
Feldman, R. (2011). Development across the life span. (6 ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Shaw, Benjamin A. "Trauma." Encyclopedia of the Life Course and Human Development.
Ed. Deborah Carr. Vol. 2: Adulthood. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2009. 478-482. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3273000245&v=2.1&u=vic_liberty&ii=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=933b468394c896e4cadb17732dd5632c
Simington, Jane A. “ Trauma and Dissociation: Neurological and Spiritual Perspectives.”
Journal of Psychological and Psychotherapy. Vo1.3, 2013. Retrieved from http://p2048-www.liberty.edu.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/1403571829?accountid=12085

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