HOLISTIC HEALTH NOTEBOOK

The past two weeks I've been writing about a continuing-education conference I recently attended. This is an annual event for me, and I never fail to come away brimming with excitement.

 

One of the speakers this year was Dr. Eileen Wright, staff physician at Great Smokies Medical Center in Asheville, N.C. What made her presentation, "The Neurophysiology of Trauma," so compelling is Wright's handson work with victims of trauma. Lest you believe this topic doesn't pertain to you because:

#1: "My trauma happened long ago and I'm over it," or #2: "This affects a few people in war situations but doesn't touch me," think again.

By the age of 18, the probability that a child will have been touched directly by interpersonal or community violence is approximately one in four. Other statistics are much higher, especially when factoring in sexual trauma.

Aspects of trauma include war, fires, hurricanes, physical abuse, sexual abuse, car accidents, witnessing violence, multiple painful medical procedures, lifethreatening medical condition, sudden death of a parent or other caregiver and the threat of violence at school or home. Considering that list, I think we are all traumatized at one time or another.

But years later, what does this have to do with us?

In her presentation, Wright described several long-term effects of trauma.

Disassociation involves disengaging from stimuli in the external environment and attending to inner stimuli (daydreaming, which can range from simple daydreaming to pathological disturbances).

There is also a connection between past abuse and mood disorders as well as cognitive changes such as ADD, ADHD, distractibility and behaviors including cigarette smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders and aggressive behaviors.

There are physical effects as well, such as changes in the neuroendocrine system that involve levels and activity of the stress hormone cortisol, and changes in immune function that predispose these individuals to pro-inflammatory response.

As I listened to Wright go on about the long-term effects of early childhood stress, I could hardly keep from weeping. How many children? How many teens? How many adults? How many of us struggle with psychological and physical disorders that have their roots in our early childhood, through events over which we had no control.

Is there hope? Yes. That's what I'll talk about next week.

— Carol does lifestyle and nutrition coaching at the office of Dr. Alan Gruning in Fort Myers. For more information or to set an appointment, call (239) 939-3303.