Child abuse is one of the toughest, most gut-wrenching things to talk about. The word ‘cruel’ doesn’t begin to describe the mentality necessary to inflict harm on an innocent child.
Yet, discussing the psychological ramifications of child abuse is an absolute must. This is particularly true in a society that insists we “pick ourselves up by our bootstraps” and simply “move on.” Many adults’ pleas have fallen on deaf ears, as mental health benefits in healthcare plans continue to decrease across both the private and public sectors.
So, we’re doing our own small part. In this article, we’re going to discuss how child abuse affects brain wiring into adulthood. Please share this article and help get the word out if you believe the information contained within will do some good. (Thank you!)
HERE’S HOW CHILD ABUSE CHANGES THE BRAIN AS AN ADULT:
Alterations to the ACC
Per a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, long-lasting effects of traumatic childhood experiences – including child abuse – strongly correlate with impairment to the structure and function of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).
The ACC is one part of the brain that plays an imperative role in regulating emotions, impulses, and mood. Researchers believe that these changes to the ACC result in the manifestation of depressive disorders and suicidal ideations.
Myelin Abnormalities of the Abused
The rapid messaging that takes place between regions of the brain is astonishing in its complexity. Billions of neurons (brain cells) transmit nerve impulses within a split second.
Many of these electrical signals must travel long distances to communicate with neurons in other brain regions. The long axons (threadlike nerve cells) are protected by a fatty coating called myelin. Besides safeguarding the axon, this fatty sheath also assists the axons in conducting electrical signals more efficiently.
Myelin develops rapidly during childhood, continuing to mature into early adulthood. Post-mortem microscopic imaging reveals significant abnormalities in the myelinated nerve fibers of people who committed suicide and had a history of severe childhood abuse.
Source – News 18
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