Childhood stress is the most common and potentially disabling psychological disorder for millions of children, teens, and adults throughout the world. Early childhood is a vital time in a child’s development, which includes pre-born years from birth to approximately five years of age. Childhood stress is almost always an inevitable part of everyday life. Human beings may experience stress at an earlier age to prepare them for certain situations they may encounter in the future. During the early stages of childhood, the brain is relatively immature and does not have the ability to effectively handle stressful events and activities.
The most common physical symptoms of childhood stress are excessive sleeping, poor eating habits, and poor hygiene. The physical symptoms of this disorder are often mistaken for normal and/or positive psychological indicators such as excitement, anticipation, and confidence. When the body is constantly exposed to stress, it can develop physical illnesses such as stomachaches, headaches, asthma, headaches, diarrhea, and hyperactivity. Although many children suffer from normal stresses, when the child experiences prolonged or chronic stress, it develops unhealthy ways of dealing with stress.
Most children often experience childhood anxiety and behavioral problems that stem from their responses to stress. It has been shown that physical symptoms of stress such as headaches, high blood pressure, and indigestion are indicative of long-term exposure to emotional and behavioral challenges. When children lack healthy ways of coping with daily activities such as sleep patterns, eating habits, and behavioral patterns, they become susceptible to developing emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Long-term exposure to traumatic events such as violence in the home, physical or sexual abuse, school accidents, or being witness to domestic violence can lead to emotional and behavioral disorders that mimic adult psychological and emotional problems. Physical symptoms include headaches, muscle tension, stomachaches, diarrhea, nervousness, and feelings of being detached from your surroundings. Emotional symptoms include low self-esteem, an inability to concentrate, feelings of hopelessness, and crying spells. Both children and adults are affected by these types of adverse childhood experiences.
It is important to address the effects of childhood stress by identifying the source of toxic stress. One of the most common sources of toxic stress can be found in the everyday lives of parents and other family members. The effects of these everyday events can lead to negative health outcomes including sickness, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and increased risk of acquiring autoimmune disorders such as diabetes and heart disease. Some of these events can be avoided by taking precautions when buying household products. However, some sources of toxic events are unavoidable such as living in a violent household, being a victim of domestic violence, and living in a polluted environment. In order to minimize the effects of toxic events in developing brains, it is important to remove these sources of negative energy from the family.
The effects of stressful events on the developing brain can also be reduced by adopting healthier ways of reacting to traumatic events. Healthy ways of reacting include breathing exercises that calm and relax the body and mind. Yoga is one of these healthy ways of reacting. Engaging in yoga exercises allows individuals to control their breathing so they can better respond to traumatic events. Other healthy ways of responding to stressful events include using meditation techniques to focus on a particular object or thought.
Children are exposed to a variety of detrimental events during their formative years. These adverse effects of childhood stress may include learning problems, poor social skills, low self-esteem, increased risk of acquiring autoimmune disorders, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, and poor self-confidence. These problems may further increase the likelihood of experiencing health-related issues as they grow older. These problems may further impede the individual’s potential for living a healthy lifestyle. In addition to affecting the health of the individual, these issues may affect the physical well-being of the individual as well.
There are a number of potential adverse effects that are associated with exposure to a variety of potentially toxic stressors during the early childhood years. It has been found that exposure to various environmental toxins such as nicotine, lead, alcohol, and caffeine have been linked to a number of potential negative health outcomes including an increased risk of obesity, depression, and diabetes. Individuals who are more likely to exhibit these symptoms are likely to be more at risk for experiencing toxic stress in their lives. The adverse effects of childhood stressors can lead to a number of negative health outcomes for an individual. Thus, it is important for parents to become aware of the potential adverse effects of these types of stressors.