Trauma, Development, and Spirituality
Crissy Bontrager
Liberty University

Trauma, Development, and Spirituality Trauma during childhood can arise from a variety of circumstances. These circumstances can include neglect, maltreatment, various forms of abuse, divorce, to name a few. The effects of trauma during childhood vary as to the type of trauma the child may have suffered. However, the development of a child can be affected by trauma. Looking into the affects of trauma one can see how development may be affected as well as how cultural differences and spirituality may help the child cope with the affects. Thus, one must take a closer look at trauma during childhood. One of the types of trauma a child may endure is the divorce of his or her parents. Children from divorced homes often struggle in school and have difficulty adjusting. The child may feel as though he or she must choose a side, or even feel responsible for the parents divorcing (University of Phoenix, 2014). The stress of ongoing trauma in a high conflict divorce can affect the neurobiology of the development of the child’s brain. Moreover, some children exhibit signs of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) when struggling with the trauma of divorce (University of Phoenix, 2014). Thus, the level of conflict within a divorce situation directly affects the level of stress or trauma the child may endure. Additionally, other types of trauma have damaging effects beyond PTSD. A child, who suffers from neglect or having his or her basic needs met, may suffer from developmental difficulties. Moreover, the child may struggle in the areas of language, academic delays, relating to peers, anxiety or depression, and behavioral problems (Harden, 2014). When the neglect of a child includes lack of a balanced diet or physical exercise the child’s growth may also be affected. In addition to neglect