At what age is childhood trauma the most impactful?

The idea that there are sensitive periods in childhood when ACEs are more impactful is a source of controversy among scientists. Some studies have found higher rates of signs of childhood trauma in adults who experienced ACEs before age 5, while other studies have not found this association. Instead, research has found multiple sensitive periods in development including before ages 12 and age 17 ( 11 ).

Does childhood trauma age you?

Research has found that experiencing significant stress during childhood, whether from abuse, neglect, or loss, can age you faster on a cellular level. For example, stress can shorten our telomeres, the protein caps at the end of chromosomes. Short telomeres accelerate aging, while long telomeres slow it down. Some studies have found that children who have gone through certain ACEs have shorter telomeres and earlier puberty. They’re also more likely to have thinning in areas of the cortex ( 3 )

Does childhood trauma ever go away?

The ability to heal from childhood trauma is a very individual thing and will depend on an individual’s age at its occurrence, the severity of the experience, and their willingness to seek help. While not everybody will fully heal from trauma, there’s hope. Human beings are an incredibly resilient species. And many people who have gone through tragic childhood experiences have gone on to live fulfilling lives. A critical part of healing for many people is finding effective therapy with a trained professional and adequate support. There are multiple treatments that are designed for individuals who have suffered from childhood trauma.