Introduction
Childhood traumas are experiences that negatively affect the cognitive, mental, emotional and physical development of the child (Dereboy, Ç., Şahin Demirkapı, E., Şakiroğlu, M., & Şafak Öztürk, C. , 2018). All these experiences have a negative impact on the future life of the child, bringing with it a much greater destruction. It has been proven by various studies that exposure to such traumatic events in early childhood is associated with much more serious dimensions such as depression and anxiety and self-harming behavior in adulthood (Jargıç, İ., Ersoy, E., & Batmaz Oflaz, S., 2012). ).
What are Childhood Traumas and What Brings These Traumas Together?
Child Abuse; It is defined as the behaviors of the person responsible for the care of the child that negatively affect the development of the child. Exploitation; it is divided into four as physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect (Judge, İ., Ersoy, E., & Batmaz Oflaz, S., 2012). While physical abuse is the abuse and non-accidental injury of the child by an adult, sexual abuse means the abuse of the child for sexual orientation. Talking to the child with erotic jargon or making the child watch a movie with sexual content can be given as examples of this abuse. Emotional abuse, which is another form of abuse, can be seen together with all types of abuse. Emotional abuse, which means the deterioration of the child's psychological well-being, is also the most difficult type of abuse to detect. Verbal threats and the use of degrading address to the child are examples of emotional abuse (Judge, İ., Ersoy, E., & Batmaz Oflaz, S., 2012). Neglect is the neglect of the child by the person responsible for the optimum living conditions (Judge, İ., Ersoy, E., & Batmaz Oflaz, S., 2012).
In the face of stressful life events, it becomes very difficult for individuals to manage their emotional reactions. This situation brings with it various psychopathological disorders (Akcan, G., & Taşören, A. B., 2020). Childhood traumas and bad memories of the child; By negatively affecting the stress reactions, hormones and nervous system in the child, it brings with it a much more difficult factor to cope with in the adult life of the child. . As a result of the studies, it was determined that childhood traumas are associated with many psychopathologically based diseases such as substance addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety in the future (Dereboy, Ç., Şahin Demirkapı, E., Şakiroğlu, M., & Şafak Öztürk, C. ., 2018). In addition, all these negative memories; impulsiveness, emotion regulation skills, self-esteem and academic success also decrease. Health problems caused by childhood traumas are not limited to these. Negative memories in an environment of constant stress can also cause health problems such as asthma, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and stroke in the future. can also cause. Children who have difficulty in emotion regulation have difficulties in understanding emotions, awareness of emotions and emotion control (Dereboy, Ç., Şahin Demirkapı, E., Şakiroğlu, M., & Şafak Öztürk, C., 2018). Especially social isolation is a common situation in these individuals (Akcan, G., & Taşören, A. B., 2020). Children exposed to negative experiences in early childhood see themselves as the culprit of the traumatic event they experienced. One of the most common things in such situations is that the child feels shyness and guilt (Dereboy, Ç., Şahin Demirkapı, E., Şakiroğlu, M., & Şafak Öztürk, C., 2018). These bad experiences disrupt the amygdala activity in the brain and this causes a constant perception of threat in the child (Dereboy, Ç., Şahin Demirkapı, E., Şakiroğlu, M., & Şafak Öztürk, C., 2018). This makes the situation even more difficult, causing the child to experience problems with introversion, intense anger and aggression. Children exposed to trauma feel constantly alert and live in fear as if something bad is going to happen at any moment. Because of these situations, the possibility of panic attacks in children and thoughts about death increase. Another psychopathological disorder caused by childhood traumas is depression and anxiety. As stated above; It has been demonstrated by various studies that there is a significant relationship between depressive symptoms and emotion regulation, and that the difficulties experienced by individuals who are exposed to childhood traumas and have difficulty in emotion regulation as a result, pave the way for the emergence of depression (Akcan, G., & Taşören, A. B., 2020). . In this case, it is obvious that it is not a coincidence that individuals with negative childhood experiences have to cope with intense depression and even anxiety in their future lives. In addition, depression; It can cause a feeling of worthlessness, weakness, numbness and slowdown in physiological functions, as well as many physical diseases in the person (Akcan, G., & Taşören, A. B., 2020).
Self-harming behavior (SCI); It is the behavior of intentionally and repetitively destroying the body. It has been observed that SIB has increased in the last two decades and occurs much more frequently during adolescence (Bakar Kahraman, B., & Kızılay Çankaya, P., 2020). At the same time, it can be said that individuals with SIDS are exposed to suicidal thoughts at a higher rate (Bakar Kahraman, B., & Kızılay Çankaya, P., 2020). Of course, it is no coincidence that the age range for SIDS occurs precisely in middle childhood. As a result of the studies, it has been determined that childhood traumas are associated with suicide attempts and self-harming behaviors (Judge, İ., Ersoy, E., & Batmaz Oflaz, S., 2012). It can be said that especially sexual abuse has a great effect on self-harming behavior (Bakar Kahraman, B., & Kızılay Çankaya, P., 2020). This situation; It clearly shows us that there is a strong connection between SIB and childhood traumas.
Neglect, which is included in childhood traumas; It is a type of abuse that brings about as important and devastating effects as sexual, emotional and physical abuse. Neglect does not only mean that the child's developmental needs are not met by the caregiver. Marriage problems of the child's parents, conflicts in the home related to this problem, and the child's living in a home where there is constant conflict, financial difficulties in the family, illness and midwife Child neglect is also included in child neglect (Akcan, G., & Taşören, A. B., 2020). In addition, the child's growing up in an environment where his feelings are not considered important and he is not allowed to express anything is a great threat to his future life (Akcan, G., & Taşören, A. B., 2020). In such an environment, it is very difficult for the child to develop self-compassion even for himself, let alone develop self-compassion towards others (Akcan, G., & Taşören, A. B., 2020). Children who grow up in such environments; After a while, they take the negative attitudes of their parents as an example and approach themselves with negative attitudes, and in time, they begin to have attitudes such as the role of defender, attacker and victim (Akcan, G., & Taşören, A. B., 2020). Throughout the process, these and similar attitudes increase and these traumatic experiences bring the child closer to the development of a negative identity.
Of course, not all childhood traumas consist of neglect and abuse. Wars, migration and earthquakes are also examples of these traumas. Today, millions of children are in the position of innocent victims of attacks and conflict environments, while the traumatic effects of these acts of violence on childhood are quite devastating (Erden, G., & Gürdil, G., 2009). Witnessing events such as war and earthquake is a very challenging situation for an early child. Children who grow up in a constant war environment or have to leave their country for this reason may also have to cope with many psychological problems in their future lives due to the trauma they have experienced. (Helvacı, Çilek, F., G., & Hocaoğlu, Ç., 2018).
In order to eliminate the devastating effect of childhood traumas on the child, a long and arduous treatment process should be followed. First of all; The idea of self-blaming of the child who is exposed to this negative experience and the negative feelings brought about by this thought should be studied. Treatment methods used in childhood traumas; EMDR, Trauma Focused - CBT and Psychotherapy can be given as examples. EMDR; It is a psychological treatment technique that aims to identify, process and analyze the trauma that the individual has been exposed to by accepting it. Trauma Focused – BD T is a short-term and structured treatment method. In this treatment method; sessions are held separately with the child and the parent, and then the interviews are brought together (Karakaya, I., 2014). In psychotherapy; By using a number of techniques, it is aimed to get to the root of the effects of the trauma on the daily life of the person and to help the person cope with his problems. With all these treatment approaches, individuals who have negative life events in childhood are helped to cope with the devastating effects of trauma in their future lives, and individuals are provided to continue their lives with a stronger psychology.
Conclusion and Suggestions
As a result, it is inevitable for individuals who have been exposed to traumatic events in their childhood to encounter the negative consequences of these traumatic memories in their future lives. No child deserves to live in an environment where their needs are not met and filled with difficult life memories. Every child should be raised with love, respect and value from the people around him, especially his family. The traumatic experiences exposed in the early stages, especially the identity formation, in the future; It should not be forgotten that depression, anxiety, substance abuse, social isolation and many other psychopathological disorders will surely appear in front of the individual one day. the fact that it matters. Today, there are many children who see themselves as responsible for the event they live and cannot express the event that happened to them because of the feeling of guilt. Educators have a great role to play in identifying these children. In addition, appropriate training should be given to children so that they can express their feelings in the school environment, and the idea that the child who encounters a traumatic event can express it comfortably should be placed in children. Necessary measures should be taken within the scope of preventive health services and social support should be provided to individuals, especially children. (Helvacı, Çilek, F., G., & Hocaoğlu, Ç., 2018). traumatized
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