One's traumatic childhood may influence their descendant's behavior

To think that one's negative childhood experiences, such as trauma, could influence the behavior of their own kids is beyond irrational. Yet, evidence suggests otherwise.

A new study shows that for people who experienced traumatic experiences like abuse, neglect, and domestic violence during childhood, their own children are at a higher risk of criminal convictions.

How the connection works is something researchers would need to do more digging to uncover. How does your adverse childhood experience so affect you that you grow into an adult, and have a child, and that childhood experience influences your own twenty-year-old son to commit a crime?

Whatever the link is, the takeaway is this: trauma and severe stress in childhood can harm not just the victim but also their own kids.

And while we do not know why it happens that way, we know that the first line of action is to protect our kids from having to go through such adverse childhood experiences like abuse and neglect. We have to be there for them.

Secondly, if you were the victim of such stressful environments when you were a child and you now live with post-traumatic stress disorder, going for treatment can be of great help. It doesn't matter how deep that experience is in your subconscious. It's there, and it can resurface when you least want it to. Chances are you already know this. You live with the memories. Seek help now. Not just for you--for your child as well, even though they're yet unborn.

Because, think about it: it doesn't end with the second generation. If due to one's adverse childhood experiences, their son (who has a young child) becomes drawn to crime and gets arrested, his child may also suffer trauma (neglect, in this case). And this might also impact the next generation.

If you or your loved one is going through difficult mental health issues because of a traumatic childhood, get help now. It's the best you can do for yourself and your loved ones.

We have mental health specialists who can help you. Call us today.

More on the research here.

Author

Satu H. Woodland, PMHCNS-BC, APRN Satu Woodland is owner and clinician of Hope Mental Health, an integrative mental health practice located at Bown Crossing in Boise, Idaho. She sees children, adolescents, and adults.  Ms. Woodland with her background in nursing, prefers a holistic and integrative approach to mental health care that addresses the mind and body together. While Ms. Woodland provides medication management services in all her patients, she believes in long-lasting solutions that include a number of psychotherapies, namely cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, attention to lifestyle, evidenced based alternative psychiatric care and spirituality. If you’d like to gain control over your mental health issues, call Hope Mental Health at 208-918-0958, or use the online scheduling tool to set up an initial consultation.