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Health News
How child abuse affects both the body and mind
Since the 1980s, a tremendous amount of research has been done into the psychological impacts of child abuse; significant advances have also been made into a range of therapies for adults surviving child abuse. The focus on mental health, however, has meant little attention has been paid to the impact of physical illness in the lives of adult survivors.
Adults surviving child abuse are more likely to suffer from a range of physical health problems than other people. These illnesses include migraines, chronic pain, arthritis, chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome. A recent survey of over 2500 older Australians with a history of physical and/or sexual abuse found that survivors were also more likely to suffer from three or more physical illnesses at once (Draper, Pirkis et al. 2008).
It is apparent that some adult survivors are forced to deal with range of both physical and mental health problems, at the same time. In looking for solutions, two key questions come to mind: What is the common thread between survivors' mental and physical health problems? How does child abuse affect physical health, as well as mental health?
A lot of research is being done into the cumulative long-term impacts of child abuse on both body and mind. In particular, researchers are exploring the interaction between our brains/ nervous system and the hormones in our bodies. This is known as the neuro-endocrine system. This system helps regulate our moods, our stress response, our immune system, and our digestion, amongst other things. Any disruption to the neuro-endocrine system affects a range of basic psychological and physiological functions.
We've known for a long time that exposure to abuse and violence in childhood can cause physiological changes. The bodies of children who are being abused react and adapt to the unpredictable and dangerous environments to which they are exposed. Their nervous systems run constantly on high as they anticipate further danger; this floods the body with fight-or-flight hormones. This chronic state of "hyper-arousal" persists for many survivors throughout their adult years as well.
Chronic hyper-arousal disrupts the delicate balance within the neuro-endocrine system, a state referred to as neuro-endocrine dysregulation which affects both the body and the mind. It leaves survivors vulnerable to a range mental and physical health conditions over a long period of time.
For instance, many survivors report chronic, widespread body pain for which no clear physical cause can be found. This can also be associated with a hyper-sensitivity to touch. In the past, these problems have sometimes been dismissed as "just" psychosomatic. Recent research however suggests that this pain and sensitivity is the result of the chronic neuro-endocrine dysregulation caused by prolonged exposure to abuse and violence (Kendall-Tackett 2001).
Some adult survivors also appear to be more vulnerable to opportunistic infections than other people. Research suggests that this vulnerability may be related to changes in levels of the hormones that modulate immune function and inflammation (Watts-English, Forston et al. 2006). It is possible that other problems experienced by survivors such as depression, insomnia, back pain, headaches, even digestive issue may result from neuro-endocrine dysregulation too (Shea, Walsh et al. 2004; Roelofs and Spinhoven 2007).
This research is important because it establishes the scientific basis for the "medically unexplained symptoms" that many survivors experience. In the past, these symptoms may have been labeled as "psychosomatic", but research is finding that they have a clear physiological basis. This should translate into better and more comprehensive health care for adults surviving child abuse.
The good news is that a range of interventions and skills can promote healthy neuro-endocrine function. Engaging in activities that reduce stress and promote mindfulness - such as regular exercise, meditation and yoga - has been shown to normalise the nervous system and balance hormone levels. Avoiding external stressors, like skipping meals, is also important.
If you are a survivor you can help your body learn how to operate in a safe and relaxed environment. By learning to care for yourself - reducing stress, being more relaxed and exercising regularly - you will be able to develop a healthier body and mind. An improved sense of wellbeing will follow as will a much-improved quality of life.
Bibliography
- Draper, B. P., Jon J., J. Pirkis, J. Snowdon, N. T. Lautenschlager, I. Wilson and O. P. Almeida (2008). Long-Term Effects of Childhood Abuse on the Quality of Life and Health of Older People: Results from the Depression and Early Prevention of Suicide in General Practice Project. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 56(2), 262-271.
- Kendall-Tackett, K. (2001). Chronic pain: the next frontier in child maltreatment research Child Abuse and Neglect, 25(8), 997-1000.
- Roelofs, K. and P. Spinhoven (2007). Trauma and medically unexplained symptoms: Towards an integration of cognitive and neuro-biological accounts Clinical Psychology Review, 27(7), 798-820.
- Shea, A., C. Walsh, H. MacMillan and M. Steiner (2004). Child maltreatment and HPA axis dysregulation: relationship to major depressive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder in females Psychoneuroendocrinology, 30(2), 162-178.
- Watts-English, T., B. L. Forston, N. Gibler, S. R. Hooper and M. D. De Bellis (2006). The Psychobiology of Maltreatment in Childhood. Journal of Social Issues, 62(4), 717-736.
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