The cause of attachment trauma is a breakdown in a child's bond with a caregiver. These encounters influence a child's growth and behavior as an adult.
Humans have basic needs that must be satisfied in order to survive. When those go unmet, it can have damaging effects on emotions, physical health, and mental health.
Multiple factors can lead to attachment trauma. Those who score higher on the childhood adverse experiences (ACE) quiz will be at greater risk of attachment trauma. Take the ACE Quiz to learn what your score is.
Physical, Emotional, or Sexual Abuse
Research has demonstrated that children who have been victims of abuse are more likely to develop insecure attachments.
The degree to which they have suffered abuse can dictate how their attachment trauma unfolds.
During the childhood years, it is a crucial time for forming emotional bonds with a caregiver or parent. When abuse is a factor, attachment disorders can be the result.
Suffering from abuse, whether physical, emotional, or sexual, can be a lifelong battle. Any action that causes or intends to cause harm is considered physical abuse. Emotional abuse can be more difficult to identify because there aren’t outward signs that it’s occurring. This may involve a caregiver not providing a supportive environment or portraying a negative attitude towards their child. Sexual abuse is any inappropriate activity that they are not old enough to understand or comprehend.
Neglect
Similarly to abuse, neglect experienced during childhood can have a profound effect later on.
Neglected children may struggle to trust others or build healthy relationships. Being able to manage and regulate emotions or properly react in social settings may also be more difficult.
When a child isn’t supported in their emotional development, their educational needs, or their basic health needs, it is considered neglect. People often divide this into two categories: emotional or physical. Emotional neglect can include failure to provide nurturing or affection in addition to meeting their developmental needs. Physical neglect involves failure to provide food, shelter, medical care, or clothing.
Abandonment
Children who have been abandoned, orphaned, or placed in any type of foster care are at a higher risk of developing an attachment disorder.
The lack of consistency in a caregiver or support system is traumatizing in itself.
As children grow, they can struggle with forming quality, healthy and secure attachments. They are more likely to have insecure attachment styles.
Divorce
Divorce can be tricky for children and adolescents for many reasons.
Not only is it splitting up a familiar and safe home space, but it also causes separation of the support system. Unfortunately, many divorces end up with the two parents being less than cordial. There can even be displays of dislike and aggravation towards the other party, which the children have to witness.
The back and forth can create strained relationships between parent and child, reducing the strength of the bond they should have. This also creates inconsistent caregiving and unstable living environments. Over time, it can impact how that child will manage their own intimate relationships in the future.
Family Mental Illness
When a parent or caregiver who is supposed to be providing support to their child has a mental illness, it can make them less available.
Depending on the severity of their illness, they may not be emotionally available for their children and their needs.
Not being able to form a solid, secure bond with their parents or caregivers can have a heavy impact on their emotional development in less productive ways.
Death of a Loved One
Losing parents or a caregiver at an early age can be a traumatic experience all on its own.
In addition to the trauma, it can also create inconsistent or less available bonding with the remaining caregiver (or whoever takes over guardianship).
They may experience withdrawn behavior towards their new guardian, and they may also have newfound discomfort with utilizing their support when they are under stress.
Attachment trauma and the effects it causes can be difficult to manage. It’s important to understand how it works and how it can impact a developing child’s brain. If you are looking for healing and would like to know more about attachment trauma, let us help you. Contact us for a free consultation today.
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