The effects of traumatic experiences and severe childhood abuse are obvious to many. Decreased self-esteem, impairment in adult relationships, and emotional dysregulation are a few of these obvious symptoms. However, these symptoms are part of the soft science of psychology. Is there real hard evidence that traumatic experiences change a person?

The answer is yes. Not only do traumatic experiences impair relationships but development and functioning of the brain is impaired too. Traumatic experiences that are experienced over a long period of time or that are unusually intense are not meant to be part of the human experience. The human body is not built to deal with such experiences.

The body is prepared to deal with short term stressors, life or death predicaments, and fight or flight situations. Long term stressors such as traumatic life events and abuse and neglect put a terrible strain on the body. Inordinate levels and intervals of stress actually kill brain cells and are very dangerous. Among women who experienced traumatic events that followed childhood abuse and neglect, parts of the brain that dealt with memory and learning were less developed.

For more information, please read more about the effects of child abuse. The good news? The brain possesses a quality that allows for reprogramming learned crises modes that contribute to impaired functioning. This quality is called brain plasticity. For more information about brain plasticity, please see my article entitled "brain plasticity."