Guest blog by Karen Kuhlman, LSW, CADC
Have you wondered how childhood trauma can contribute to depression? The mental health community has widespread agreement that there is a correlation between the experience of childhood trauma and the development of depression in adulthood. I’ll explore the how in this article.
But first, what exactly is childhood trauma? According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “childhood trauma is defined as the experience of an event, by a child, that is emotionally painful or distressful and which often results in lasting mental and physical effects.” I would modify this definition slightly by adding that the response of others to the event, specifically the lack of support during and after the event, is what often leads to these lasting effects and why trauma causes depression.
How Trauma Causes Depression
Renowned trauma expert Dr. Gabor Mate says, “Children don’t get traumatized because they get hurt; they get traumatized because they’re alone with their hurt.” Peter Levine, the developer of Somatic Experiencing, a seminal modality for the treatment of trauma, states that “trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.”
For example, let’s say a child repeatedly witnesses their mother being beaten by their father. That child lacks not only lacks a caregiver to protect them from this vicarious violence, but also lacks a grown-up to confide in because the very people who are supposed to be protecting them and helping them navigate difficult things are mired in their own despair and dysfunction. This child will likely experience lasting effects from this experience throughout their lives.
Another example is what is likely happening with some families in the current war in Israel/Gaza. Parents who are in the middle of their own trauma – say having to flee from bombing – may be so focused on survival and be so affected by their own experience that they can’t shield their child emotionally, leaving the child alone with this overwhelming experience even though the parent is physically present.
Similarly, a child who is emotionally abused by a caregiver or sexually abused by a parent or a trusted adult may begin to feel worthless and/or come to expect this type of treatment throughout their lives. These children don’t stop loving their parents or their caregivers, but rather, they stop loving themselves.
This sort of exposure to overwhelming events at an early age without adequate support negatively impacts a person’s sense of self, early attachment patterns (and trust), and the ability to self-soothe and co-regulate. This is what leads to childhood trauma causing adult depression.
Trauma and Social Isolation
And it’s not just the overwhelm caused by exposure to violence and abuse. You have seen in the news recently the U.S. Surgeon General 
Dr. Vivek Murthy’s call to arms regarding social isolation and the loneliness epidemic. In the Surgeon General’s Advisory, he aims to establish a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection. “Loneliness and social isolation in childhood increase the risk of depression and anxiety both immediately and well into the future.”
Trauma survivors often get in the habit of spending time alone because being alone is safe – you can control being alone. You don’t have to be hyper-aware of, or in, your surroundings. You don’t have to be on guard or on show. So there is less risk to manage, and you do not have to trust anyone. In these ways, loneliness can lead to depression.
Factors That Contribute to Depression from Childhood Trauma
Of course, there are many types of factors that can predispose you to depression from childhood trauma. Biological factors include genetics and physical health. Environmental factors in addition to trauma such as family, lifestyle, exposure to addiction in the family, and stress can also contribute. Childhood experiences (particularly abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, bullying, etc.), attachment patterns, emotions, and thought patterns can be psychological contributors to depression.
Additionally, a key factor that contributes to the development of depression after childhood trauma is how often trauma occurs. The more exposures to trauma, the higher the likelihood of depression or other maladies developing in adulthood and the greater the severity of the depression or other condition.
Symptoms Of Depression Due to Childhood Trauma
One symptom of depression strongly associated with childhood trauma is hypervigilance. If you experience this, you are constantly judging the safety of yourself and others. You are hyper-aware of your surroundings and may have extreme sensitivity to others’ emotions and moods.
Self-sabotaging behaviors and beliefs are another symptom. For example, you may have limiting or shame-based beliefs (I am worthless, I am stupid, I can’t succeed, etc.). Or you may have poor impulse control, a tendency to suicidal ideation, and have difficulty trusting people. You may develop addictions as a way of blocking the memories or pain of the trauma.
Physiological symptoms may include insomnia, over or under-eating, lack of focus, brain fog, anxiety, or chronic pain.
Related Reading: 18 Warning Signs of Childhood Depression Every Parent Should Know
Trauma and Depression Treatment
There are a number of options for treating depression caused by early childhood trauma. Obtaining an assessment by a healthcare professional is the best way to decide what type of treatment is best for you. Whether you work with a therapist alone or with medication and/or group therapy, the following guidance can be helpful:
- Acknowledge the trauma
- Reflect and explore what happened to you
- Grieve what didn’t happen (someone to witness your pain)
- Feel your feelings (feelings are information only and not value judgments)
- Challenge your negative or limiting self-beliefs
- Integrate what happened to you through acceptance
- Have self-compassion and grace for yourself.
Research has shown that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Somatic Experiencing (SE), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are all therapeutic modalities that can also be beneficial to someone dealing with depression caused from early childhood trauma.
Related Reading: How to Open Up to a Therapist About Trauma
If you’re in Illinois, therapists at Life Care Wellness can help determine if you are suffering from depression that may have been caused by childhood trauma. Our therapists are trained in trauma-specific therapies such as EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, DBT, ACT, and IFS, and will help you determine your best course of treatment. Please reach out to us in our northern Illinois locations in Glen Ellyn, Chicago (Jefferson Park), and Sycamore
Karen Kuhlman is a licensed therapist and addiction specialist at Life Care Wellness. Karen specializes in substance use, process addictions (eating disorders, shopping, gambling etc.), DBT, IFS, and nutritional therapies. She firmly believes that the greatest challenges in our lives are also our greatest opportunities for growth and healing.
