Comments on: Child Abuse and Neglect: Effects on Child Development, Brain Development, and Interpersonal Relationships http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/ Exploring Healthy Psychotherapy Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:34:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: terri http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-15514 terri Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:18:29 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-15514 I am a female, 62 years old. When I was born, I only weighed 2.5 pounds. This was a very small midwest town. Back then, babies that small just did not survive. I was put in an incubator, and someone had to manually pump on a tiny bellows placed in my mouth, to breathe for me, s my lungs did not work. Other than that, and for feedings, no onw ws allowed to see me or touch me or look at me. I was in that incybator for three months. I have memories of it. Then, I went home. I was raised in a horribly abusive household, abused sexually, vebally, physically, by both parents. I was raped when I was five, and my mother yelled at me and blamed me for it. Since this was an army post, I had to testify in a court martial. No support ot emotional empathy from anyone. I was just a terrified and forlorn neglected five year old waif. I also have deeply imbedded memeories of these events. I have been in therapy continously for most of my adult life. I am permanently disabled with PTSD. Dr. Balswim's traum pages have been very enlightening. His specialty is PTSD, but he also has a subspeciality about PTSD in infants, and the kind of neglect I suffered at birth predisposes children to PTSD, especially when it is then compounded by being raised in a hostile environment. I have scars on my body from where my dad used to beat me with his army belt, buckle first. My mother used her fists and broom handle, and kicked us as we lay on the floor. When my father was beating me, I had to be nude, and my mother stood in the corner and laughed. I am a female, 62 years old. When I was born, I only weighed 2.5 pounds. This was a very small midwest town. Back then, babies that small just did not survive. I was put in an incubator, and someone had to manually pump on a tiny bellows placed in my mouth, to breathe for me, s my lungs did not work. Other than that, and for feedings, no onw ws allowed to see me or touch me or look at me. I was in that incybator for three months. I have memories of it. Then, I went home. I was raised in a horribly abusive household, abused sexually, vebally, physically, by both parents. I was raped when I was five, and my mother yelled at me and blamed me for it. Since this was an army post, I had to testify in a court martial. No support ot emotional empathy from anyone. I was just a terrified and forlorn neglected five year old waif. I also have deeply imbedded memeories of these events. I have been in therapy continously for most of my adult life. I am permanently disabled with PTSD. Dr. Balswim’s traum pages have been very enlightening. His specialty is PTSD, but he also has a subspeciality about PTSD in infants, and the kind of neglect I suffered at birth predisposes children to PTSD, especially when it is then compounded by being raised in a hostile environment. I have scars on my body from where my dad used to beat me with his army belt, buckle first. My mother used her fists and broom handle, and kicked us as we lay on the floor. When my father was beating me, I had to be nude, and my mother stood in the corner and laughed.

]]> By: Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-13339 Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:50:46 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-13339 Dear Wendy, You are welcome. In addition, neglect can be as damaging as physical abuse. The effects can be quite insidious: low self-esteem, problems with behavioral and emotional regulation, attachment, biology, etc. On the other hand, it is sometimes amazing how resilient some children are; that can be heartening. I also find it encouraging that there is an effective treatment for children who have experienced chronic early maltreatment within a caregiving relationship; Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy being an evidence-based approach for this. regards Art Dear Wendy,

You are welcome. In addition, neglect can be as damaging as physical abuse. The effects can be quite insidious: low self-esteem, problems with behavioral and emotional regulation, attachment, biology, etc. On the other hand, it is sometimes amazing how resilient some children are; that can be heartening. I also find it encouraging that there is an effective treatment for children who have experienced chronic early maltreatment within a caregiving relationship; Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy being an evidence-based approach for this.

regards
Art

]]> By: Wendy http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-13337 Wendy Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:19:12 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-13337 Thanks so much for this article. It is well needed. so many people go through abuse whether it be substance, verbal or physical. I believe that verbal is just as bad as physical because it is implanted in a child's memory and once they get older, they recall back on this if something triggers it. It is sad to see children go through any kind of abuse and the abusers really need to get help on controlling this. Thanks so much for this article. It is well needed. so many people go through abuse whether it be substance, verbal or physical. I believe that verbal is just as bad as physical because it is implanted in a child’s memory and once they get older, they recall back on this if something triggers it. It is sad to see children go through any kind of abuse and the abusers really need to get help on controlling this.

]]> By: Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-12447 Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:17:29 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-12447 There are several ways you could find resources. Two books that may be helpful are Attachment in The Classroom by H. Geddes Inside I'm Hurting by Bombier both books are published by Worth Publishing, 2007. alternatively, you can go to your reference librarian and find the reference that lists articles that cite articles of interest. So, for example, if there is one particular article I cite in my material you found helpful, look to see what other more recent articles cite that one. You could also just brouse the current issues of journals that seem in the right area. I hope this helps. regards Art There are several ways you could find resources.

Two books that may be helpful are
Attachment in The Classroom by H. Geddes
Inside I’m Hurting by Bombier
both books are published by Worth Publishing, 2007.

alternatively, you can go to your reference librarian and find the reference that lists articles that cite articles of interest. So, for example, if there is one particular article I cite in my material you found helpful, look to see what other more recent articles cite that one. You could also just brouse the current issues of journals that seem in the right area.

I hope this helps.

regards
Art

]]> By: AK http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-12429 AK Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:20:46 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-12429 I'm completing some research work on the effects of child abuse/neglect on development, particularly educational achievement (this is for a master's class, but I currently work in child protection)... for reference, do you have any additional works or studies you could recommend regarding this specific subject (education)? I’m completing some research work on the effects of child abuse/neglect on development, particularly educational achievement (this is for a master’s class, but I currently work in child protection)… for reference, do you have any additional works or studies you could recommend regarding this specific subject (education)?

]]> By: Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10785 Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:20:12 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10785 Doyle, It is quite sad and also quite true. There is an "inter-generational" dimension to child abuse. Mary Main and others have written extensively about how this is communicated via the attachment relationship and how it perpetuates the cycle of violence. I tend to think of it this way. What is means to be a woman, mother, spouse...man, father, spouse is learned by observing, experiencing, and relating to the models ones grows up with. How can we expect someone to act differently if their only experience is with abuse...that is the model in their head...the model of relationships that they then enact. Good treatment, such as Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, acts to change these internal working models (Bowlby) through the intersubjective sharing of experience and the creation of new and reparative experiences (See Becker-Weidman, A., & Shell, D., Creating Capacity for Attachment (2005), Wood N Barnes, Oklahoma City, OK for details on this treatment). regards art Doyle,

It is quite sad and also quite true. There is an “inter-generational” dimension to child abuse. Mary Main and others have written extensively about how this is communicated via the attachment relationship and how it perpetuates the cycle of violence. I tend to think of it this way. What is means to be a woman, mother, spouse…man, father, spouse is learned by observing, experiencing, and relating to the models ones grows up with. How can we expect someone to act differently if their only experience is with abuse…that is the model in their head…the model of relationships that they then enact. Good treatment, such as Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, acts to change these internal working models (Bowlby) through the intersubjective sharing of experience and the creation of new and reparative experiences (See Becker-Weidman, A., & Shell, D., Creating Capacity for Attachment (2005), Wood N Barnes, Oklahoma City, OK for details on this treatment).

regards

art

]]> By: Doyle http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10777 Doyle Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:56:46 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10777 Isn't it sad that there are still people who abuse their children because of their own issues with anger? Either they do not know what kind of lasting damage they can do to a child or they do not care. Isn’t it sad that there are still people who abuse their children because of their own issues with anger? Either they do not know what kind of lasting damage they can do to a child or they do not care.

]]> By: Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10487 Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:43:34 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10487 You are both brave. Resolving trauma requires that the trauma be revisited and integrated into a coherent sense of self. This can be difficult and painful, and is necessary to resolve trauma. regards You are both brave. Resolving trauma requires that the trauma be revisited and integrated into a coherent sense of self. This can be difficult and painful, and is necessary to resolve trauma.

regards

]]> By: tina http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10469 tina Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:51:30 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10469 I too was abused as a child by a family member and I cannot tell you how emotionally draining the whole experience has been for me over the years. There have been others in my family who have refused to talk to me because I had the need to get everything out in the open and to start anew with a clean slate. It has taken me years to deal with my past and I still do every day but there is something so great about just getting it all out in the open and choosing to live life for the present and not in the past. I too was abused as a child by a family member and I cannot tell you how emotionally draining the whole experience has been for me over the years. There have been others in my family who have refused to talk to me because I had the need to get everything out in the open and to start anew with a clean slate. It has taken me years to deal with my past and I still do every day but there is something so great about just getting it all out in the open and choosing to live life for the present and not in the past.

]]> By: Shannon http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10447 Shannon Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:04:40 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10447 WBR, I am so sorry to hear that this is something you have had to deal with in your life. I certainly am glad that being a part of this forum is helping you see that you are not alone and that what you are feeling is normal in your situation. I hope that one day you will be free of your past abuse and feel hope when you look toward your future. Blessings. WBR, I am so sorry to hear that this is something you have had to deal with in your life. I certainly am glad that being a part of this forum is helping you see that you are not alone and that what you are feeling is normal in your situation. I hope that one day you will be free of your past abuse and feel hope when you look toward your future. Blessings.

]]> By: Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D. http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10443 Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D. Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:43:57 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10443 WBR, You are welcome. I'm glad that this helped. If you wanted to read more about Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, you can look at Creating Capacity For Attachment, 2005, Wood N Barnes publishers. WBR,

You are welcome. I’m glad that this helped. If you wanted to read more about Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, you can look at Creating Capacity For Attachment, 2005, Wood N Barnes publishers.

]]> By: WBR http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10437 WBR Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:43:48 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10437 Thank you so much for sharing this with the world. I find it most fascinating to learn. I am a thirty six year old woman who was horrendously abused for twenty years of my life by a drug addicted, alcohlic mother. She abuses me to this day, except I can now come and go as I please, being an adult. I have suffered, right back as far as I can recall from this, many times, wanting to take my own life to end the pain. It is sites such as this that help me understand more about what is going on inside my own mind and the reasons I do what I do. When I read that my behaviours and thought processes are not so unusual after all, it makes it that little bit more bearable. One day I will be free; that day is not far away, I am sure. In the meantime, thank you sincerely for all that you do in helping many others, including me, understand some of these issues so much more. Thank you so much for sharing this with the world. I find it most fascinating to learn.
I am a thirty six year old woman who was horrendously abused for twenty years of my life by a drug addicted, alcohlic mother. She abuses me to this day, except I can now come and go as I please, being an adult.
I have suffered, right back as far as I can recall from this, many times, wanting to take my own life to end the pain.
It is sites such as this that help me understand more about what is going on inside my own mind and the reasons I do what I do.
When I read that my behaviours and thought processes are not so unusual after all, it makes it that little bit more bearable.
One day I will be free; that day is not far away, I am sure.

In the meantime, thank you sincerely for all that you do in helping many others, including me, understand some of these issues so much more.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10427 Kyle Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:28:59 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10427 It still just baffles me that there are people out there who can treat children in this way. It still just baffles me that there are people out there who can treat children in this way.

]]> By: Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10403 Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:16:22 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10403 Dear AMH, your comment is not off topic at all. The idea that what we do is often more important than what we say is especially important in helping children with histories of complex trauma and disorders of attachment. Experience, in and of itself, can be quite therapeutic. In fact, that is one of the essential elements in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, which is an evidence-based treatment for such children with demonstrated effectiveness (see various professional peer-reviewed publications for details). Thanks for your comment Dear AMH,

your comment is not off topic at all. The idea that what we do is often more important than what we say is especially important in helping children with histories of complex trauma and disorders of attachment. Experience, in and of itself, can be quite therapeutic. In fact, that is one of the essential elements in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, which is an evidence-based treatment for such children with demonstrated effectiveness (see various professional peer-reviewed publications for details).
Thanks for your comment

]]> By: AMH http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10393 AMH Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:17:43 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10393 This is a little off topic perhaps but a great message that I saw somewherethe other day was that children need models, not critics. This is so true. We need to pay more attention to how we treat the children of the world, in the womb and once they are here, because we really have no idea just how much we influence their lives through not just words but our actions too. This is a little off topic perhaps but a great message that I saw somewherethe other day was that children need models, not critics. This is so true. We need to pay more attention to how we treat the children of the world, in the womb and once they are here, because we really have no idea just how much we influence their lives through not just words but our actions too.

]]> By: Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10387 Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:51:39 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10387 A wonderful book that, on the other hand, shows the resiliency of children and how, even with the negative effects of early trauma on brain development and later behavior, is three Little Words: A memoir by Ashley Rhodes-Courter 2008. regards A wonderful book that, on the other hand, shows the resiliency of children and how, even with the negative effects of early trauma on brain development and later behavior, is three Little Words: A memoir by Ashley Rhodes-Courter 2008.

regards

]]> By: Michael http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10373 Michael Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:59:30 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10373 It is an article such as this that should serve to remind us all how things can become continuous cycles of poor behavior until someone in a family is able to break the pattern and therefore break the unhealthy patterns that reside therein. I am so dismayed to read about innocent children that it seesm do not stand a chance due to the abusive relationships that they have had while growing up and this seems so unfair! They did not ask to be treated this way and to be brought into uncaring and unfit families. That is why I feel it is the responsibility of everyone to step in when we see cases such as this and madate that changes be made and that the abuse end so that these kids stand a fighting chance for a healthy survival and future. It is an article such as this that should serve to remind us all how things can become continuous cycles of poor behavior until someone in a family is able to break the pattern and therefore break the unhealthy patterns that reside therein. I am so dismayed to read about innocent children that it seesm do not stand a chance due to the abusive relationships that they have had while growing up and this seems so unfair! They did not ask to be treated this way and to be brought into uncaring and unfit families. That is why I feel it is the responsibility of everyone to step in when we see cases such as this and madate that changes be made and that the abuse end so that these kids stand a fighting chance for a healthy survival and future.

]]> By: Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10361 Dr. Arthur Becker-Weidman Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:01:51 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10361 Steve, Thank you. I am hopeful that this article will help people understand the pervasive and lingering effects of chronic early maltreatment within a caregiving relationship (aka complex trauma) on brain function and how this causes problems for later development. This, of course, leads to certain implications regarding treatment. In some empirical research I've done I've found that Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy is an effective treatment for such children, while "usual care" was found to be ineffective. See, for example, Becker-Weidman, A., & Hughes, D., (2008)“Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy: An evidence-based treatment for children with complex trauma and disorders of attachment,” Child & Adolescent Social Work, 13, pp.329-337. Steve,

Thank you. I am hopeful that this article will help people understand the pervasive and lingering effects of chronic early maltreatment within a caregiving relationship (aka complex trauma) on brain function and how this causes problems for later development. This, of course, leads to certain implications regarding treatment. In some empirical research I’ve done I’ve found that Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy is an effective treatment for such children, while “usual care” was found to be ineffective. See, for example, Becker-Weidman, A., & Hughes, D., (2008)“Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy: An evidence-based treatment for children with complex trauma and disorders of attachment,” Child & Adolescent Social Work, 13, pp.329-337.

]]> By: Steve H http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/child-abuse-neglect-brain-development/comment-page-1/#comment-10347 Steve H Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:44:15 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=623#comment-10347 Some of this information is quite fascinating. No really all of it is. It just emphasizes even more the need for sex ed classes for information to kids thinking of having children and providing resources for parents across every income level to make sure that the needs of mother and child are always met. Some of this information is quite fascinating. No really all of it is. It just emphasizes even more the need for sex ed classes for information to kids thinking of having children and providing resources for parents across every income level to make sure that the needs of mother and child are always met.

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