Numerous studies have been done on the implications of childhood trauma on mental health. Although the general consensus is that trauma does affect an individual in many ways, very little research has been done to narrow the investigation into the possible links between childhood trauma and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
One 2013 study, Childhood Maltreatment is Associated with Larger Left Thalamic Gray Matter investigated the relationship between GAD and childhood maltreatment by examining the brain scans of individuals with a history of GAD and trauma. As a person with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from childhood experiences, I was intrigued about this study.
The limbic system, which is made up of the amygdala, hippocampus, mammillary body hypothalamus, olfactory cortex, thalamus, cingulate gyrus and fornix, can create dysfunction within these systems by way or continual arousal, disruption, and interference from stress related events like trauma. Overreaction and dysfunction within the limbic system can perpetuate the misguided and perceived threats causing individuals to be constantly on guard or worried that something is going to happen. This hyper-sensitivity at an unconscious level can directly result in keeping the limbic system in disarray long after the threat has been removed. High levels of cortisol that are ignited by the experiences of trauma can trigger anxiety and depression, as well as a deficiency in the GABA neurotransmitters. (Hosier, Childhood Trauma Recovery, 2016) For those of you that have GAD, you are probably sitting there thinking, no kidding!
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anxiety_disorder, childhood_trauma, adverse_effects_of_childhood,
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