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Our grandmothers have known this for a long time. Now many
physicians and healthcare providers have begun to also embrace this
concept as numerous recent studies document the statistical
relationship between past trauma and current health.

Our grandmothers have known this for a long time. Now many
physicians and healthcare providers have begun to also embrace this
concept as numerous recent studies document the statistical
relationship between past trauma and current health.

But how does this happen?

To address this question, health psychologist and author Kathleen
Kendall-Tackett examined her own field of study as well as the child
maltreatment literature. Her examination of the numerous studies in
both fields helped her identify five major pathways leading from past
abuse to current negative health conditions. In her book, The Lifetime Health Effects of Childhood Victimization, she lists these five pathways:

Physiological pathways

• Trauma causes your sympathetic nervous system to become morereactive. In the stress management literature the sympathetic nervoussystem activates the fight or flight stress response.
• Trauma can cause your levels of stress hormone to become permanently dysregulated (medicalize for "out of whack."
• Trauma may cause you to be more sensitive to pain as it may lower your pain threshold.

Behavioral pathways

• Because of past trauma or abuse, you may find yourself engagingin risky or harmful behaviors such as using alcohol or dangeroussubstances.
• On the flip side, you may ignore engaging in health-promoting behaviors such as proper exercise or eating.

Cognitive pathways

• As a trauma survivor you may be more likely to have negative beliefs about yourself and others
• Negative beliefs can undermine your health and may also lead to yourengaging in harmful behaviors and harmful relationships.

Social pathways

• As an abuse survivor, you may find that you experience troublein relationships: divorce, marital disruptions, and social isolation.
• Past abuse may condition you to become revictimized in adulthood.
• Trauma fallout can result in your having a higher incidence ofpoverty, becoming homeless, or having difficulty in school or work. Allof these social problems can negatively impact your adult health status.

Emotional pathways

• Past trauma or abuse may result in your having depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Depression or PTSD can suppress your immune system and lead to amyriad of health problems, including increased risk of heart attacks.
  

Healing past wounds to improve your health

Awareness affords you the opportunity to heal,
improve your life, and become more productive. How do you gain such insight and awareness? Start by journaling 15
minutes or so three times a week about what past trauma you have
experienced. As you identify the traumas, ask yourself how each one has
changed or driven your life. You will be amazed at what you learn as your journal pages take on a life of their own.

Once you are aware that a problem exists for you, you can set
the stage for action. Read everything you can about your problem,
consult professionals, and discuss with friends who support you. Then
craft a plan for overcoming your problem and take action.

Speaker and author Ellen Taliaferro, MD lives in Half Moon Bay, CA and serves as the Medical Director of the Keller Center for Family Violence Intervention at the San Mateo Medical Center in San Mateo, CA.

She is the author of three books: WellWriting for Health After Trauma and Abuse, The Physician's Guide to Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse, and A Handbook: Respond to Intimate Partner Violence - 10 Action Steps You Can Take to Help Your Patients and Your Practice.

Dr. Taliaferro can be reached by calling 650-393-3660 or through her websites http://www.healthaftertrauma.com and http://www.wellwriting.org