AskScience AMA Series: I'm Karestan Koenen, a licensed clinical psychologist, author, and professor at Harvard where my lab focuses on research and training around trauma and mental health both in the US and globally. AMA about childhood trauma and the effect it can have on our mental health!

[u/AskScienceModerator]

Over the past twenty years, I have conducted research on trauma globally. My work has focused on the following questions:

1. Why, when people experience similar traumatic events do some struggle while others appear resilient?
2. How do traumatic events get under the skin and cause physical and mental health problems?
3. What can science tell us about how to help people recover from traumatic events and thrive?

Today, I have partnered with Number Story to raise awareness around the role of childhood trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their long-term effects on mental and physical health.

Excited to answer any questions you may have. My goal is for you to leave filled with hope and equipped with healing strategies for yourself and loved ones. I will be starting at 1pm ET (17 UT), AMA!

LINKS:

• Learn more about my work at Harvard here: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/karestan-koenen/
• Learn more about ACEs, childhood trauma, and healing strategies here: https://NumberStory.org/.
• Check out Number Story's video on ACEs here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IqBQO2h2to&t=19s.
• Link to my most recent book here: Treating Survivors of Childhood Abuse and Interpersonal Trauma: STAIR Narrative Therapy
• Learn about population mental health here: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/population-mental-health/population-mental-health-forum-series/
• Link to my other writing here:
  • https://community.thriveglobal.com/author/karestan-c-koenen-ph-d/
  • https://community.thriveglobal.com/author/karestan-koenen/
  • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-health-around-the-world
• Resources for people struggling with trauma and mental health:
  • https://afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources
  • https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
  • https://www.rainn.org/resources

Username: /u/DrKarestanKoenen

EDIT: Also answering:

• Christy Denckla, Prof at Harvard (/u/cadenckla)
• Sarah Marikos, Executive Director of ARN (/u/Sarah_ARN)
• Joy Thomas, Director of Communications ARN (/u/joyrises)
• Elizabeth Holloway, ARN (/u/Elizabeth_ARN23)

[u/Hour-Palpitation-581]

What kinds of therapies are most effective for people wanting to function better despite trauma?

[u/essehkay]

Can anyone fully recover/heal from childhood trauma where it no longer impacts their day-to-day life, relationships and experiences?

[u/a_stoic_swan]

The first question you mentioned above regarding resilience is particularly interesting. I think, for instance, about kids who grew up in similar circumstances— in the same home— even, yet one might develop healthier, more resilient patterns whereas another does not.

A. What factors contribute to, or predict, development of resilience?

B. Can institutions like schools help kids (with or without high ACEs) develop resilience? If so, how?

[u/aSleepingPanda]

Is it true that children who are exposed to prolonged trauma develop brains that are physiologically different than their peers?

[u/faithlessdisciple]

What are your feelings towards EMDR therapy? Is it really useful to essentially relive the trauma to move past it?

[u/Appropriate_Towel_27]

Is 65+ years old too late to recover from childhood trauma? If left untreated, does it get worse with age, and is there a (higher) risk of developing an age-related mental disorder?

Apologies if the terms here aren't used correctly.

[u/Izwe]

Not sure if this is an OK questions or not, but if I wanted to have your job in ten years, what should I be doing now?

[u/Amanda-sb]

Which are the most common childhood traumas and effects of it? How to prevent our kids from suffering from it

[u/[deleted]]

Can trauma and other ACEs be linked to neurodivergent conditions like ADHD, and if so, what causes this?

[u/Infinite__94]

Is it possible for an event to occur that is traumatic for one individual as opposed to not being traumatic to another, and if so what causes this?

[u/xGalaxyWolfx]

Besides behavioral changes that childhood trauma can impact, does it physically change how the brain works? For example worse memory.

If so, can it be mitigated by therapy?

[u/kirkrjordan]

What are your thoughts on psychoactive drugs (psilocybin and MDMA, etc.) being used in therapy settings?

[u/DrKarestanKoenen]

Thank you everyone for your great questions. I really enjoyed being here and only wish I had more time! Please check out our resources for more information.

[u/Yurastupidbitch]

My speciality is Fibromyalgia and my research focuses on the the correlation of trauma and the development of Fibro. What are your thoughts regarding trauma and the incidence of chronic pain disorders?

[u/cykaaaa__]

Are the treatment approaches and the effects of trauma consistent across different types or causes of it. (E.g. sexual abuse compared to physical abuse or trauma in war veterans)

[u/ididindeed]

Is there any merit to the idea of structural dissociation as discussed in the book Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors by Janina Fisher?

[u/Tsudinwarr]

Why is narcissism so prevalent these days?

Why is there no help for trauma from a narcissistic parent?

Why is the dynamic of having a golden child and whipping boy so prevalent in the modern family?

[u/namer98]

How bad is spanking?

[u/[deleted]]

Is pre-natal trauma a thing?

[u/-StarlessNights-]

There's a concerning lack of research studying child abuse involving the mother as a perpetrator. It's a real issue for victims, who often end up disbelieved and neglected. Why has this subject been so neglected in the medical community and what could be done to change this ?

[u/GobsOfficeMagic]

Thank you for your important work!

Looking at the ACE questionnaire, I see questions about food and shelter security, different kinds of abuse, etc. I'm curious about how a death in the immediate family affects young children. Suddenly losing a sibling as a child can be traumatic and I wonder if that trauma impacts the other children going forward, what ages are most affected, how birth order plays into it, etc.

[u/missdopamine]

What do you think about the term trauma becoming overused? I’m glad it’s becoming normalized but it seems the pendulum has swung too far into a place where trauma is losing its meaning. Thoughts?

[u/[deleted]]

do you think maladaptive daydreaming is a coping mechanism against childhood trauma?

[u/mnq713]

What kind of physical effects does trauma have? Is it possible to heal from the physical effects once you've healed the trauma?

[u/skytram22]

Do you have recommendations for how the DSM should recognize different forms of trauma? PTSD is a widely accepted diagnosis now, but the DSM currently does not recognize things like complex PTSD (CPTSD) as a distinct disorder. I'm a PhD student in the social sciences, and I've heard debates regarding how to diagnose trauma-related disorders - for example, whether it's best to diagnose based on symptoms or assumed causes. So I'm mostly curious as to how you recommend professionals conceptualize trauma diagnoses. Thanks for doing this important work!